BALI KERIS HULU : ANIMAL FORM, what is it ?

[Anthony G.]

Originally Posted by asomotif

I bought this keris hilt, mainly because I like the carving as an object.
But once in hand the questions arise.

What kind of animal is it ?
Is it a trasitional hilt form our tourist object ?

The seller thought it is an ape. A friend thinks it looks like a bear.
I think it looks more like a dog. Any suggestions ?

Best regards,
Willem

I saw similar thing before recently which according to the Indonesia dealer, it is a dog and I feel it is a new invention for hulu. I think dogs are important part of the Balinese culture, a symbol of Tyaga, meaning bhakti, or sincere devotion. I have recently made a new Balinese keris with painted warangka. I ask the painter to make decision for me and he painted dogs which is my most favorite animal.

[A. G. Maisey]

The dog situation in Bali has several aspects. In the Hindu faith Siwa has a number of manifestations (8?) that are terrible, these manifestations are the Bhairavas, when Siwa is manifested as a Bhairava his vahana (mount) is often a dog.

Other minor deities can also be associated with dogs, and dogs are permitted as pets, or as working dogs, they are sacred in the context that all life is sacred, and some Hindu people believe that looking after dogs can help in achieving moksa. However, dogs are considered unclean and should not be permitted into the house, & most especially not into a temple or other sacred place.

From time to time there have been outbreaks of rabies in Bali, and when this happens any dogs seen on the street are shot. There was a big cleanup of Bali dogs not all that long ago --- maybe ten years ago --- for a long time after that there were not many dogs to be seen on the streets, but in 2018 the numbers seemed to be getting back to something like normal.

There is a black side to the Bali dog matter, and that black side is the dog meat trade.

Do not read this if you are squeamish:-

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-06-...urists/8620128

I have been told by several people that the practice of eating dog meat was brought to Bali in the recent past by Christians from the Philippines who came to Bali to work in the tourist industry. The consumption of dog meat is not indigenous to Bali, it is just another contamination brought into Bali by outsiders.

[Anthony G.]

Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey

The dog situation in Bali has several aspects. In the Hindu faith Siwa has a number of manifestations (8?) that are terrible, these manifestations are the Bhairavas, when Siwa is manifested as a Bhairava his vahana (mount) is often a dog.

Other minor deities can also be associated with dogs, and dogs are permitted as pets, or as working dogs, they are sacred in the context that all life is sacred, and some Hindu people believe that looking after dogs can help in achieving moksa. However, dogs are considered unclean and should not be permitted into the house, & most especially not into a temple or other sacred place.

From time to time there have been outbreaks of rabies in Bali, and when this happens any dogs seen on the street are shot. There was a big cleanup of Bali dogs not all that long ago --- maybe ten years ago --- for a long time after that there were not many dogs to be seen on the streets, but in 2018 the numbers seemed to be getting back to something like normal.

There is a black side to the Bali dog matter, and that black side is the dog meat trade.

Do not read this if you are squeamish:-

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-06-...urists/8620128

I have been told by several people that the practice of eating dog meat was brought to Bali in the recent past by Christians from the Philippines who came to Bali to work in the tourist industry. The consumption of dog meat is not indigenous to Bali, it is just another contamination brought into Bali by outsiders.

Thanks Alan for sharing and it is very disturbing which I must said. I will totally avoid MEAT in Bali when I have the opportunity to travel there in future.

[A. G. Maisey]

I eat very little meat at any time Anthony, I'm not vegan, but 99% of my diet is.

For many, many years I have avoided any sort of food from animals of all kinds whenever I'm in Indonesia.

[asomotif]

I received some information from a fellow collector.

I already noticed the pronounced claws with 3 nails on my hilt, but considering the overal appearance of the carving I thought these were just crudely carved.

Well these nails might be the key to the question.
Maybe these nails are correct and the rest of the carving is freestyling by the carver.

I received pictures of hilts depicting a pangolin.
According to this fellow collector a sasak motif.

Best regards,
Willem

[asomotif]

Ps. before the thread goes culinary again. don't eat pangolins. they are an endagered species.

[Anthony G.]

Originally Posted by asomotif

Ps. before the thread goes culinary again. don't eat pangolins. they are an endagered species.

Is Pangolin part of Balinese culture? And eating wild animals are bad. Covid is result of what happen i think.