Kebo Lajer - dapur meaning?

[erikscollectables]

Who on the forum has a description (in english) of the meaning / background of the Kebo Lajer dapur?

For some reason this form is my favourite and I have been able to acquire 4 of these (2 from a friend that have been displayed here on the forum before).

Ik know a dapur says nothing about the age of a piece but it seems most of the kerisses I have seen with this dapur appear to be very old.

All info and ideas are welcome, hope to learn from your input!

Regards, Erik

[ganjawulung]

Originally Posted by erikscollectables

Who on the forum has a description (in english) of the meaning / background of the Kebo Lajer dapur?

For some reason this form is my favourite and I have been able to acquire 4 of these (2 from a friend that have been displayed here on the forum before).

Ik know a dapur says nothing about the age of a piece but it seems most of the kerisses I have seen with this dapur appear to be very old.

We in Java, colloquially very intimate with the word "kebo" which may means "kerbau" in Indonesian and Malay language, or "carabao" in English, which you may translate it as "water buffalo" as well...
Literally kebo lajer means "kebo" and "straight thing", and could be interpreted too as "male water buffalo".

Kebo Lajer keris? Some old javanese books -- written in javanese character or caraka script -- usually only described in picture of this dapur. But you may look back at Mr G Tammens (1915) for instance, in his "De Kris, Magic Relic of Old Indonesia" in one of his books. He has a description and picture of a kebo lajer blade -- which he (could be) mispelled it as "kebo lajar" (page 215). The keris on the picture of his book, he said, "has been in the Netherlands for a long time. (Tammens said) attributed to empu Supo long ago. The peksi has got a flattened tip with a little hole, which also points to the famous empu..."

His old blade, which Tammens said as "a Mojopahit" (Majapahit) blade of 15th century, sheated in a gayaman iras warangka, and "nunggak semi" Solo hilt with overall length of 33 cm blade only...

Another book writer, Mr Haryono Guritno in his book "Keris Jawa, Antara Mistik dan Nalar" (Keris Jawa, between Myth and Logic), also wrote on this keris dapur, but no much explanation except describing this name, could means as "kebo jaler" too or "male water buffalo"..

Mr Harsrinuksmo, in his Ensiklopedi book, elaborate this very popular dapur in Jawa, that kebo lajer is liked by ordinary people in agricultural area. Some keris lover -- he said -- believed that such dapur of keris has good "tuah" (magic power?) in "helping peasant to get their better life.." And so on...

Dapur "Gumbeng" also has similarity with kebo lajer. It has a long gandhik too, but the blade is wider than kebo lajer, and shorter.
Hope it will help you to appreciate this popular dapur in Jawa...
Could you please upload pictures of your kebo, if you don't mind?

GANJAWULUNG

[A. G. Maisey]

Pak Ganja, the following is not being given in dispute with your interpretation of "kebo lajer", but merely to provide a different perspective.

Many years ago the meaning of "kebo lajer" was given to me by a very well respected East Javanese mystic, who was also a keris collector, as "leader of kerbau".

Some time later somebody else, but I forget who, gave me the meaning as " the support given by a kerbau".

In Old Javanese one of the meanings of "lajer" is "principal support". In light of this perhaps we can see the sense in this second interpretation, and of course, the first interpretation is also easily understood when we look at Modern Javanese.

Both these interpretations if considered against the background of the tuah attributed to this dhapur of being fortunate for those with farming associations, do seem to make some sense of the name.

[ganjawulung]

Thank you, Alan, for enriching us on this "kebo" matter. At least, "male" could symbolize as "leader" too. As does in javanese, red color could means as "brave" or white as "sacred" too... Male kebo, could possibly mean leader kebo..

What is interesting to me is, the word "kebo" (mahesa) that was very frequently used in Java -- either for naming things like keris dapur, or even people's name in the past (or in legend) such as Mahesa Wong Ateleng (one name in Singasari legend), or Kebo Anabrang, Kebo Ijo (in the period of Ken Arok and the deadly keris)..

In keris, at least there are a dozen of keris dapur which bearing "kebo" name. As kebo lajer, kebo dhungkul, kebo giring, kebo kanthong, kebo teki (all straight kerises, with different small details), and kebo nabrang, kebo nempuh, kebo soka (three luks), kebo dhendheng, kebo dhengen, kebo tedhan, kebo tedhas (five luks). As do, carita dhapur. More than five keris dhapur bear names with "carita"...

Then, why "kebo"? Is it a mystical and powerful creature in the javanese world?

GANJAWULUNG

[A. G. Maisey]

Pak Ganja, I don't believe I added anything to the interpretation of "kebo". My comments related only to the possibility of variation in meaning of the word "lajer".

However, since you have drawn our attention to the use of "Kebo" as a designation, or perhaps title, for men in times past, it may be worth noting that some scholars of Old Javanese are of the opinion that the word "Kebo" could have denoted a grouping, or classification of soldier in ancient times. ( Ref. Zoetmulder)

In respect of "kebo teki" , in Old Javanese, this referred to a type of grass.

In Modern Javanese "teki" is the name of a type of grass, possibly the same grass as was known by the name "kebo teki" in Old Javanese.

The symbolism of the kerbau in Javanese belief is well known, and I am certain that your knowledge in this respect would far outweigh my own, thus perhaps you may care to expand upon this subject?

[ganjawulung]

Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey

However, since you have drawn our attention to the use of "Kebo" as a designation, or perhaps title, for men in times past, it may be worth noting that some scholars of Old Javanese are of the opinion that the word "Kebo" could have denoted a grouping, or classification of soldier in ancient times. ( Ref. Zoetmulder)

Very interesting interpretation, Alan. Especially that you noting on some scholars of Old Javanese such as one of the most respectful Old Javanolog Mr Zoetmulder, on the meaning of "kebo".

"Kebo" and "Mahisa" or "Mahesa, Maesa" has the same meaning of carabao or water buffalo, but different in grade. As you know too, that the word "kebo" is the ordinary word for water buffalo. But mahesa, is the more polite word for the same animal. This gradation of the kebo meaning, seems to be used also in naming some one. "Kebo" is for naming attendants of important people (for instance, Kebo Ijo or Kebo Hijo -- green carabao -- the favourite attendant of Akuwu (governor) of Tumapel, Tunggul Ametung in the legend of Ken Arok or Ken Angrok -- then the first king of Singasari kingdom (at the beginning of 13th century). Ken Arok also named his son from wife Ken Dedes, a "higher" grade "kebo" name -- Mahisa Wong Ateleng...

The grand son of Ken Arok -- or the son of Mahisa Wong Ateleng -- also called another higher grade kebo, Mahisa Champaka...

Did the naming of "kebo" in kerises also came from this period?

GANJAWULUNG

[ganjawulung]

Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey

In respect of "kebo teki" , in Old Javanese, this referred to a type of grass.

In Modern Javanese "teki" is the name of a type of grass, possibly the same grass as was known by the name "kebo teki" in Old Javanese.

Yes, "teki" grass has a characteristic of not-easy-to-be-routed-out, because of its small tuber underground... Maybe the characteristic of this grass-root was suitable to symbolize the characteristic the traditional javanese grass-root. And this type of grass, in the past was not all unuseful. Ordinary people in the javanese village often used the dried-tubers of "teki" grass to be used as face-powder, the crushed teki tubers of course...

(Thanks a lot, Alan, for reminding me....)

GANJAWULUNG

[ganjawulung]

Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey

Many years ago the meaning of "kebo lajer" was given to me by a very well respected East Javanese mystic, who was also a keris collector, as "leader of kerbau".

I've just checked in Zoetmulder Jawa Kuna - Indonesian book, yes, you are right Alan. "Lajer" literally means "main pillar". No wonder, if "kebo lajer" was translated as "leader of kerbau"...

GANJAWULUNG

[A. G. Maisey]

I didn't know that teki root was used as a face powder source, but I do know that it can be eaten. I think I've heard somewhere that it can be made into a kind of emping too.

Quite frankly, some of --- no, most of --- the dhapur names leave me totally mystified. I feel that it is sometimes a case of something being relevant or understood at some point in the past, but being in the realm of complete nonsense now.

[ganjawulung]

Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey

Quite frankly, some of --- no, most of --- the dhapur names leave me totally mystified. I feel that it is sometimes a case of something being relevant or understood at some point in the past, but being in the realm of complete nonsense now.

On the oral tradition. People in the past in Java usually get lesson -- moral lesson, for instance -- from oral tradition. Not from books. But from "tembang" (javanese recited poetry). This tradition is so strong, and some of old people they could memorize each word of the tembang. Including names of kerises. Do you thing these names of keris mentioned in tembang -- for instance -- also are complete nonsense?

GANJAWULUNG