Kerises, ritual cleaning and deterioration

jagabuwana · 30th January 2022, 11:45 PM

In the keris cultures of Indonesia, kerises of significance are ritually and periodically cleaned.

Those that have gone through many cycles of cleaning can be visibly deteriorated by the process over time. Given more cleaning and more time, the keris may no longer be distinguishable.

Maybe this says something about how the keris is perceived. Despite its importance, perhaps there is an understanding in Javanese and Balinese culture that nothing in the human realm is permanent. If no man can escape time, then nor can the "living" keris.

According to Javanese or Balinese culture, what should be done to these kerises, when they are deemed to be too deteriorated?

A. G. Maisey · 31st January 2022, 02:31 AM

This depends entirely upon the circumstances and there are more circumstances than can be comfortably counted.

jagabuwana · 31st January 2022, 02:46 AM

Fair enough, thanks Alan. Maybe I'll start with a scenario then.

Suppose there's a heavily dilapidated keris pusaka which is spiritually and symbolically significant towards lending legitimacy to the rule of a keraton monarch.

*I make no reference to any existing scenarios where this is actually happening. If I have, it's by coincidence.

A. G. Maisey · 31st January 2022, 03:18 AM

In that case, its a bit more than a pusaka, it is something that up until the rule of PBII was considered to be essential to legitimse the position of the Susuhunan in Kartasura, in the event it turned out that PBII was able to hold his position in the absence of this type of pusaka, but there are still people in Jawa at the present time who tie the reign to the pusakas.

You have outlined a situation, but there are multiple elements involved, and what actually happened in such a situation would depend upon a measured judgement in respect of all elements and all possible results.

There is never any set in stone answer, and in most things Javanese the same thing applies.

But setting that aside, some things that can happen are that an old blade can be incorporated into a new blade, or even parts into several new blades.

The keris could be thrown into a river or a rice field, or the sea, or it might simply be stored as it is in quiet situation, in effect, retired from active service, so to speak.

In the final analysis there is no answer to your question, because there are multiple situations, multiple people involved, and multiple possibilities.

jagabuwana · 31st January 2022, 05:22 AM

Understood, thanks again Alan

30th January 2022, 11:45 PM	#1
jagabuwana Member Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 280	Kerises, ritual cleaning and deterioration In the keris cultures of Indonesia, kerises of significance are ritually and periodically cleaned. Those that have gone through many cycles of cleaning can be visibly deteriorated by the process over time. Given more cleaning and more time, the keris may no longer be distinguishable. Maybe this says something about how the keris is perceived. Despite its importance, perhaps there is an understanding in Javanese and Balinese culture that nothing in the human realm is permanent. If no man can escape time, then nor can the "living" keris. According to Javanese or Balinese culture, what should be done to these kerises, when they are deemed to be too deteriorated?

31st January 2022, 02:31 AM	#2
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,888	This depends entirely upon the circumstances and there are more circumstances than can be comfortably counted.

31st January 2022, 02:46 AM	#3
jagabuwana Member Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 280	Fair enough, thanks Alan. Maybe I'll start with a scenario then. Suppose there's a heavily dilapidated keris pusaka which is spiritually and symbolically significant towards lending legitimacy to the rule of a keraton monarch. *I make no reference to any existing scenarios where this is actually happening. If I have, it's by coincidence.

31st January 2022, 03:18 AM	#4
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,888	In that case, its a bit more than a pusaka, it is something that up until the rule of PBII was considered to be essential to legitimse the position of the Susuhunan in Kartasura, in the event it turned out that PBII was able to hold his position in the absence of this type of pusaka, but there are still people in Jawa at the present time who tie the reign to the pusakas. You have outlined a situation, but there are multiple elements involved, and what actually happened in such a situation would depend upon a measured judgement in respect of all elements and all possible results. There is never any set in stone answer, and in most things Javanese the same thing applies. But setting that aside, some things that can happen are that an old blade can be incorporated into a new blade, or even parts into several new blades. The keris could be thrown into a river or a rice field, or the sea, or it might simply be stored as it is in quiet situation, in effect, retired from active service, so to speak. In the final analysis there is no answer to your question, because there are multiple situations, multiple people involved, and multiple possibilities.

31st January 2022, 05:22 AM	#5
jagabuwana Member Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 280	Understood, thanks again Alan