Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post

Raja Muda · 3rd August 2005, 02:16 AM

Greetings, Salam Perkenalan

I've broached this subjects with many people before. Some would dismiss it with skepticism and derision, while others would enthusiastically give their personal account of encounters with the keris's inner anima.
I understand among traditional Malays there is this concept of khadam or servant that resides within the keris. Sometimes this khadam would manifest itself in physical forms such as old men and appear in the dreams of the owner. This appearance is often regarded as a sign or alamat whether the keris gives its consent to reside with the owner or otherwise. There is this belief that if the khadam dislikes the owner, then, this gives rise to discomfort and causes problems for the owner, short of accidents happening around the house.
As I said, this is the popular belief amongst the Malays. Based on my readings, I understand that the Javanese have a more sophisticated, more complex and detailed system concerning the tuah or the luck of the keris, and I feel it would only be proper for a real Wong Jawa to enlighten us on this. I'm interested to know more myself.
Nowadays, there is some re-interpretation of this concept. What latent forces that resides within the keris is considered aura or energy and is often seen as an outward but invisible quality of its pamor. I have friends who resort to the unconventional method of asking a Qigong practitioner to detect the chi or energy in keris - an interesting meeting of two cultures and esoteric systems. I'm sure others have a lot to say on this matter as opinions differ.
To use the word hantu is a bit simplistic as people tend to lump any ghost, apparition, flesh eating monsters etc into this category. Perhaps someone can also help with the terminology.

3rd August 2005, 02:16 AM	#2
Raja Muda Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Posts: 100	Khadam Keris Greetings, Salam Perkenalan I've broached this subjects with many people before. Some would dismiss it with skepticism and derision, while others would enthusiastically give their personal account of encounters with the keris's inner anima. I understand among traditional Malays there is this concept of khadam or servant that resides within the keris. Sometimes this khadam would manifest itself in physical forms such as old men and appear in the dreams of the owner. This appearance is often regarded as a sign or alamat whether the keris gives its consent to reside with the owner or otherwise. There is this belief that if the khadam dislikes the owner, then, this gives rise to discomfort and causes problems for the owner, short of accidents happening around the house. As I said, this is the popular belief amongst the Malays. Based on my readings, I understand that the Javanese have a more sophisticated, more complex and detailed system concerning the tuah or the luck of the keris, and I feel it would only be proper for a real Wong Jawa to enlighten us on this. I'm interested to know more myself. Nowadays, there is some re-interpretation of this concept. What latent forces that resides within the keris is considered aura or energy and is often seen as an outward but invisible quality of its pamor. I have friends who resort to the unconventional method of asking a Qigong practitioner to detect the chi or energy in keris - an interesting meeting of two cultures and esoteric systems. I'm sure others have a lot to say on this matter as opinions differ. To use the word hantu is a bit simplistic as people tend to lump any ghost, apparition, flesh eating monsters etc into this category. Perhaps someone can also help with the terminology.