cultures moderation tips for keris lovers

[Rick]

Purwacarita , in rereading this thread I find that at least three people (keris enthusiasts) from your area have responded to your post .

Perhaps they have said all they wish on this subject .

Now I must ask , if your views on the nature and transferrence of keris from one person to another is not about money at all ; why then is your avatar money itself ?
I must admit to being as confused about this as you must be about my "Kris stabbing a wall" .

[Battara]

First on Rick's keris - W W! Amazing, I would love to have a puppy like that - W F!

Secondly, if you need, I am a minister and I will willingly pray/bless your keris' for you (very small fee ).

[Rick]

Originally Posted by Battara

Secondly, if you need, I am a minister and I will willingly pray/bless your keris' for you (very small fee ).

Now Battara , must I quote scripture to you .

[rasdan]

Wow!!!.. awesome man.. simply awesome.. I wont sell the pendok for $300 (not to mention the blade) if i'm the tukang. Phew.. It had been a hell of a work there..

[Tim Simmons]

Money,money,money in a rich mans world Even the spirits are graded by wealth. Very interesting. Tim

[purwacarita]

Hi nechesh. Keris is mahar-ed for some commitments and sold for some price. It is sad to still see the hypocritical of seller who sells but said mahar-s. Perdikan is old language, sancrete or palwa, I don't know, that means independence. I think it is mistakenly attributed to context tax-free to regions, which in old time, it is said that free tax region was gifted a perdikan keris as a symbol that the region is tax free. And some people today still believe that if they are gifted keris from authoritive person, like the President, it means that they don't have to pay tax again. Gurindam is non spoken message usually uses things or symbols to express it.

Hi Rick. My avatar to remind me of glow of simple metal which easily misunderstood as esoteric properties. Stabbed wall is about the same context with chopped liver.

Hi Boedhi. Nice to read your post again, though many I would disagree. I appreciate you for honesty.

Next sun.

How would you define esoteric / tuah?

Keris made by empu Gandring is said to have bad esoteric properties as it takes many victims, including the first bearer and the maker himself. By understanding that the esoteric is the conduced spirit of the bearer, and that keris is made to the spiritual intention of the maker. It is impossible that keris is so called having bad esoteric properties. Because,
- Empu Gandring would want the keris esoteric properties influenced the first bearer, Ken Arok, to kill himself.
- The esoteric property, if any (from the intention of the maker), failed to stop the ambition of Ken Arok to use any ways including cruel ones, to fulfil his ambition to become a king. If any esoteric, it would have been intentionally used to breach the skin of Tunggul Ametung who said to mastered high internal martial art, rather than to help Ken Arok to become king.

A few time a go, a TV programme, Dunia Lain, hosted by Harry Pantja showed a man who looked like casting mantra to a keris, suddenly the keris looked like become heavier, he put then the keris into a glass. The keris started to swing slowly, then more dynamicly, until the glass went down and the keris stopped swinging. Though the host did not explain if the keris was possessed by some jin, souls as the esoteric, I felt the it was meant that way. I want to disagree because,
- The bearer hand was shaking heavily when holding the keris in vertical position, but he could easily put the blade into the glass. The gravity of the soul only worked when the keris was held vertically, mana mungkin?
- The swing stopped just about the glass fallen to ground. If the soul inside really swing the keris, after the glass fell, it will slowly still swing.
Because of those, I think that what showed was not souls esoteric keris, but just keris that manipulated by practitioner who had mastered some prana energy.

And so, I devide esoteric properties as follows
- if the keris could make bearer remember his commitments, though the spirit is not yet induced and thus he will keep doing as his commitments

- if the keris is already induced by the spirit of the bearer
- if the induced keris is blessed by priest
- if the blessed keris is blessed by god

Esoteric also called yoni. You might wonder where the lingga is. Some will say,
- lingga is the soul that inhabitated the keris, just like a man, who has soul inside the spirit. It is what cause life, soul and spirit, inspite of sexual things of penis and vagina. This theory is a failure as good pertimi is used to drive away ghosts in house and give peaceful atmosphere
- lingga is the material things surrounded the keris, CE: offering, oil, etc
- lingga is the blessing by priest or god

[nechesh]

Thank you Boedhi Adhitya for your clear and concise explanations. As usual you have shed some light on a very complex subject. And thank you for the definitions as well. Your words make a lot of sense to me.
Purwacarita, it seems to me that the man making his keris cut grass for the TV cameras is more likely using slight-of-hand or some other stage magic technique than the more esorteric explanation that he has mastered some prana energy. He is most probably a chalatan, not a holy man. IMO dogs can be made to do "tricks", but keris should not.
I am curious about your use of the terms Yoni and Lingam (lingga). These are Hindu terms of Sanskrit origin with rather particular meaning. They refer specifically to the venerated symbols of the female (goddess) and male (god, specifically Siva) genitialia as it applies to the Hindu religion. From what source are you making your adaptations of these concepts to the keris? I am not saying one way or another is i believe this application is correct, but i would be interested to know what you base it on. I do find the use of the term Yoni to mean "esorteric" a bit vague.

[purwacarita]

Hi nechesh. I don't think it was a stage magic technique as it was performed in kraton Surakarta, but I don't care if the guy in the show had mastered the prana or not, nor if he was a magician. The show was intended to be understood as soul inhabited keris and it is very convincing for those who does not understand. I meant to say that the show was not soul inhabited keris and disprove any supertitious belief of it.

Yoni and Lingga are sourced in that religion, only you'll have to guess which one. In my understanding, it is not a genital symbol of sex of feminine and masculine, but rather a symbol of creation of life as union of soul, spirit & body. Others can have their own values over my post and feel free to disagree. And nechesh, I did not imply either that esoteric keris will lose its esoteric properties when bought (instead of mahar).

Gurindam still practised behind the scene in marriage before the blessing. The groom likely to give to bride's parents mahar, usually gold or money, and spiritual things like holy books. This is not read as the groom intention to buy the bride with such things as the payment, but to be read as the commitment of the groom to do the best to financially and spiritually support the bride and the children, in the future. Parents will receive the mahar and give it to the bride. This is to be read that the commitment shall be subject to responsibility to the bride. I think it's quite different in capitalistic situation where marriage concerns financial achievement of the groom.

The difference of these 2 marriages is the risk taken. Under mahar, the couple will face great risks in the future as what they have in present is nothing but their commitment (and love ). Under capitalism, the risk is minimized, which is the good thing. The bad thing is that people tend to value anything with money. People are people though marriage for mahar still use local currencies and marriage for sale may not. But people will ask, who or what do you love? or do you really love me or my beautiful car?

The original keris culture is that also, isn't? We can adapt to capitalism where culture shifts, but we can't forget who we are. I don't oppose you who sell keris for living, but you'll respected if you are honest and sincere.

[Boedhi Adhitya]

I believe the Empu Gandring and Ken Arok legend was picked from "Serat Pararaton" (= Para Ratu, Cronicle of the Kings), which was written nearly 400 years after the actual incident happened ( Ken Arok / Singasari reign). It is, certainly, hard to verify, even at the time when the book was written. Some experts even interpret this "Empu Gandring" story as a symbolic languages (or gurindam, as Mr. Purwacarita define) depicting the "magnificent" struggle for power in Singasari between the families. But IF only this legend was TRUE, those who knew the legend would understood that the keris had not been finished by Mpu Gandring, which then caused Ken Arok, who've been waiting for a long time, to became very angry, grabbed the keris, and killed the empu himself. It was, actually, the blessing ceremony which had not been done. Mpu Gandring himself had warn Arok that the keris was fiery and full of anger when he came to took the keris. The curse which was spelled by Gandring while he was dying, would be the "blessing ceremony" then.
Making keris is an art, technically and spiritually, and can not being done in rush and anxious circumstance. The fact that Ken Arok was a well-known leader of robbers, would also influenced the "spiritual circumstance" of Mpu Gandring. Imagine this : How would you fell if Osama bin Laden commisioned a keris to you, if you an empu ? Your feeling or "spiritual circumstance" then would changed considerably and being easily absorbed to the keris you make, and nothing you can do about it. You have at least two options then : Stop working, which would only make the keris-making process delayed while the feeling still "haunt" you. Not to mention Mr "O" who may get angry for waiting too long. Or refuse the commision, which may cause Mr "O" send you a suicide bomber Same situation might also apply to Gandring, and thus, it is easily understood then, why his keris so fiery and full of anger, even before Gandring cursed it.

I do agree with Mr. Purwacarita, it is almost impossible for empu, especially Master Empu, to "cast" bad intention in his keris. It was a "mishap" that made a bad keris. This might be technically or spiritually when the empu lost his concentration. Any disturbances which make the master empu angry, in doubt, anxious, annoyed, sad or any "bad feeling" would easily seep into the keris. Just like a composer when he compose a song. While a composer use a song as a media to express his idea, feeling, or wishes and a painter use the brush's strokes and colors, an empu choose the iron, pamor and others on a keris to serve this purpose. You may choose a song as "your song", or a painting which "describe" your feeling. You may also choose a keris to reflect your wishes, 'ideal character/personality' you wish to achive, your ideal 'way of life' or ambitions you wish to achieve(= 'Da Flag'). Then, the keris may serves as a 'remembrance', as every time you see your keris, you will remember of your wishes and gives you a "power/motivation" to achive it.(=Da Nationalism). Selling this kind of keris then would be felt very humiliating to the owners. Sometimes, on a very good pusaka, "the power" is so intense, that any "keris-illiterate" who see it would also overwhelmed by this kind of "unseen/spoken power". Just like any listener would be overwhelmed by a good song likes, said, Bohemian Rhapsody. This explanation, however, only explain the esoteric things from exoteric point of view. (perhaps an "exo-esoteric" explanation ) The real esoteric would also involve the empu's prayer/blessing.

Then, it is very easy to understand that the keris for a soldier would not match the wishes of a farmer. A merchant should not wear a keris intended for a king. Why ? Because his costumers want to be king also. Two king in one shop would only ended up in a war Mahar-ed or bought, it will not make a lot of differences in this kind of "esoteric". It may also easily understood that "the old fashioned" Javanese would very reluctant to show his pusaka keris to a stranger, which may also show his ambitions, which is considered as unpolite in Javanese culture. It is also speculated that many good pusaka's ganja was changed on purpose with "ganja wulung" (=black ganja, that is, without pamor) to hide the ambition of the wearer/owner. (Yes, it is very possible to do an "educated guessing" on keris' pamor and dapur, only by looking the ganja on a sheathed keris. An expert may reach 80-90% accuracy. With ganja wulung, only dapur could be predicted, certainly).

Making keris technically, also took a lot of care and concentration. So, if you had a technically perfect keris, it would be almost always guarantee you a good concentration of the maker, which may also connected to "good spiritual circumstances". It may also always guarantee you profits, if you bought it on a fair price

"Yoni" jargon to describe the unseen "esoteric" things, IMHO, would be a "recent" invention. "Serat Centhini" which was written in 19 cent. did not use this terminology (it describe the meaning of ricikan and dapur though). It was said that Mr. BPH Sumodiningrat, a Surakarta's court prince and also a respected keris expert, who introduced this terminology. (Unfortunately, Mr. BPH Sumodiningrat had passed away) He did not, as I recall (remember please, I have a short memories), explain the Lingga. IMHO, the "yoni" term would resembles the "Yin" side in Taoism( or Daoism, a more approriate spelling), while Lingga is the "Yang" side, the "seen" quality, and thus, the blade itself or exoteric things. Today in Java, Yoni terminology usually use on every "unseen" or "spiritual/spirit" qualities which reside on something, not limited to the female genital symbol where it was originated.
I do aware that some spirit/energy things may reside on kerises. I also aware that some of them reside on my collections. While I'm aware of their presence, once again, it is not my main concern/consideration on selecting kerises. Until today, we live happily and peacefully Serat Centhini warned "be careful on selecting keris. The pamor/iron may bring you a good luck or a bad luck." It did not warn about the spirit or even wrote about it, as I recall.
One of the elders warn me :"Just like other traditional arts like wayang (shadow puppet) or Gamelan, the keris standards, as a classic Javanese art, had been set. Anyone who seeks other standards would only get lost." Perhaps, it is only a Javanese "chauvinistic" point of view

Yes, Tim. It is sad to say that almost all about money. It is a fact of live Money may not buy everything, it only able to buy 99% things in this world

[nechesh]

Boedhi Adhitya, thank you once again for shedding light and answering questions that others seem unable to answer. I have found your input on both this thread and the forum in general to be invaluable.
Purwacarita, i am not sure where you have gotten you ideas about marriage "under capitalism", but i can assure you that at least here in the USA the average couple still marries for love of one another, not money or possessions. What ever gave you the impression that "it's quite different in capitalistic situation where marriage concerns financial achievement of the groom." Gee, if that were the case i would never have been able to find my beautiful, loving wife. Yes, there are certainly cultural differences between here and Indonesia, but i am concerned that you seem determined to push forth the differences you perceive rather than the similarities. Like many North Americans my wife and i began our marriage with love and commitment to walk the path of life together...and very little else. I think perhaps you have watched too many episodes of "Desperate Housewives" or some such TV show. Fortunately, even so called reality television does not reflect the actual lives of real people.

[rasdan]

Hi Rick,

I am down right curious about the manufacturing technique of your pendok. Can u please explain how it is or how do u think it is made? Is that really pamor??

[Rick]

Hi Rasdan it is pamor , you can see the pattern on the inside of the pendok also . I was told that this was made in the traditonal way then beaten by hand at working heat into a thin sheet (there are no rolling mills in Maduran villages) . The flat sheet is then cut into a fan-like shape and hot formed over a sangklon ( a pendok mandrel ) The real skill comes in the welding of the finished product .
All in all a very labor intensive project .

[Boedhi Adhitya]

Perdikan = A free-tax land which was given by the king to his vassal/servant, not necessarilly of noble origin, mostly caused by a remarkable service that had been done by the servant. The leader of perdikan usually called "Ki Ageng", ex. Ki Ageng Pengging was a leader of The Perdikan of Pengging, near Boyolali, Central Java.
Gurindam= A form of two-couplets poem in old malays letter.

Wish would help Nechesh on understanding Mr. Purwacarita's posts

I agree with Mr Purwacarita that MOST Indonesians who seek keris, wish a "spiritual benefit" or "magical things" in keris rather than it's artistic form and beauty, while they themselves are unable to "feel" this benefit/things. Then they run to someone who, they believe, as having this capability. Thus, they are subjected to fraud. Just like inexperienced people seek for diamonds will end up in imitation ones. For those who seek ONLY spiritual or magical benefit, I would suggest them to seek true jimat/amulet/talisman like "rajah".

I personally DO NOT believe that someone, which own, for example, an old keris with udan mas pamor will become rich without doing nothing. I DO believe that he might be slightly richer if he sold his keris

Mahar would be translated as dowry in English. This would happen only when a keris has became someone's identity, just like USA with stars and stripes flag. USA would never sold their flag to other country and invented new flag as a replacement, would they? BUT, sometimes, the keris's owner just need some cash, and have to sold his "flag". Then, the "mahar" term would be used to "cover-up" his shame. Some dukuns would also use this term and connecting it to the magical properties, which will not "attach" to the keris if the keris is bought, and thus the Mahar shouldn't be bargained. Anyway, who's the one who have a heart to bargain the dowry he would give to his lovely bridge? I personally never give a damn to this term, because de facto, it is "PRICE" and "MONEY" and I DO bargain for it. I would seek keris anywhere, even from the dukuns, as long as it meets my standards, fairly priced, and not a stolen ones. Good keris not necessarily belongs to a prince or court's families. In fact, today's Jogjakarta's princes who love kerises have bought some of their kerises from commoners, and they, like other keris lovers, are in constant seek for good and fairly priced pieces. I've personally found good kerises in Beringharjo traditional market which were underpriced by the sellers. (And I've met some dukuns buying cheap kerises there also ). Only a little keris dealers would judge kerises properly, even if they handle kerises everyday for years. Why? Because they do it for money, and didn't pay attention to what they have. They would put a high price on most demanded keris. This demand, since belong to most Indonesian who didn't "understand" their own heritage, would only misleading.

Keris has became commodities in Java. "Keris hunters" will go to villages, buying kerises, spearheads, swords, drawer/cupboard, lamps, or anything else look "old" from villagers. The "keris hunters" then would go to the nearest bigger/district city and bring his "quarries" to the "wholesaler" and sell it in bulk. The "wholesaler" then sorting the keris qualities, clean it, put it in the sheaths and handles and give them the "appropriate" price (or mahar, if you like it) and then sale it to other "wholesaler" or "customers", or "dukuns", anyones who wish to buy it. If you lucky enough, you might "intercept" the "keris hunter" before he meets the "wholesaler", and pick a good keris in very low price

(Hi)story of the blade, for me personally, isn't important part and never became my consideration on selecting kerises. This story is hard to verify. In fact, the blade has told his own story, e.g. the heavily corroded blade was abandoned for years, "worn-out" blade caused by etching with minor corrosion means the blade was well maintained for generations (something that should be appreciated), a good, original sheath with Tayuman handle usually belongs to at least a middle-class, keris-literrate owner (proper shaped sheath and tayuman handle were very expensive, and judging "proper" match and shape need a lot of experiences. Good keris with good sheath and handle were, and always, a luxury). Beauty and properly executed, would be the most important point since it shows the empu's mastery on the art. Empu's mastery on the blades will never fade away, whether the blade is inherited, "mahar-ed" or "priced/bought". When the blade was made by the master empu, then, anything else would follow, wouldn't they ? It's a very simple and rational conclusion, IMHO.

Good trustworthy elders are hard to find, and they never advertise themselves. All elders I've met do not make a living from kerises, and not a dukuns / paranormal / shamans. They just keris devotees. They only discuss the art, never the story.