P a t r e m -- The Smaller Keris

[HanaChu69]

Dear Ganjawulung,

Thank you so much for all the info and May Allah bless you for all your effort. I’m sorry for this late reply as I’m very tied up. However, I will look up on patrem from my resources over the coming weekend (If there’s any and if I could find anything relevant). I sure hope we will be able to share and compare our findings.

Warm regards,
Hana

[PenangsangII]

Hana & friends,

Since most Javanese & Malay cultures were very much influenced by Hinduism, would it be possible that patrem was once used by women not only as a self defence weapon but also as a suicide implement that was connected to "satee" esp when the husbands died during battle. Off course this ritual, I suspect had existed before the inhabitants of Malay archipelago converted to Islam.

[ganjawulung]

Dear All,
Gandhik naga (front section of keris base with naga or dragon relief) is only found in Javanese kerises. You may find such dhapur naga name as: Nagasasra, Naga Siluman (the invisible naga), Naga Tapa (ascetic naga), Naga Penganten (naga bride) in many kerises. Even in small keris like this picture. This keris, with relief of naga with crown and relief of a deer in the triangle of keris base, is only one span of a normal palm-hand. (Please compare with a normal keris in the picture).

I hope it is not wasting your time, just to see this post...

Ganjawulung

[A. G. Maisey]

Only Javanese keris Pak Ganja?

It seems I learn something new everyday.

[David]

Originally Posted by ganjawulung

Gandhik naga (front section of keris base with naga or dragon relief) is only found in Javanese kerises.

I have certainly seen Bali keris naga.

[Alam Shah]

Hmmm... Naga pieces are also found in Northern Peninsular (see pic) and Riau-Lingga Archipelago, (an example in Asian Civilizations Museum, Singapore). There are quite a number in Sumatra as well.

Although I believe it originated from Java and found its way to other regions.

@quotes from Dave Henkel's site
There are a surprising variety of Peninsular forms although there is little information about the dapur or shape of the blade. Take a look at this interesting naga blade. (Pattani, Southern Thailand... anonymous collector.)

[ganjawulung]

Dear David and Shahrial,
Yes, I think I must correct my previous statement that I quote from Mr Bambang Harsrinuksmo. (See Naga, Gandhik page 304 Ensiklopedi Keris). I found too, naga or other relief in Lombok kerises. (See picture) And in Lombok, kerises with relief in the gandhik such as naga, pendeta (priest), elephant etc, called as "keris tantri".. (See, Keris in Lombok, by Lalu Djelenga, page 165)

Ganjawulung

[David]

Originally Posted by ganjawulung

Yes, I think I must correct my previous statement that I quote from Mr Bambang Harsrinuksmo. (See Naga, Gandhik page 304 Ensiklopedi Keris).

This is a good example how even what one might consider their most trusted reference book on keris is bound to have errors in it. I have yet to find any book that doesn't have some mistakes in it.