Raksasa

[tunggulametung]

Just to add a link about garuda mungkur to previous post within the forum.

[jonng]

Thank you guys for your kind input.
Any idea on which island those 2 Raksasa in the post card/ pic are from and their age?

[Marcokeris]

In the beautiful Jensen's work "Krisdisk" there is a great explanation about Raksasas argoment.
Jonng here another like your hit:

[tunggulametung]

Dear Jonng, I have no idea of the age of the picture, but the one with a man has "1895" in the filename, so maybe...

These were all Javanese.

[VVV]

Here are four other variations.
The first two are the more obvious Rakshasas, both with friendly smiles.
The third is the more hidden "Putra Satu" and the last one could be a Yaksha?
I haven't seen a female Rakshasi on a keris hilt, only male.

Michael

[David]

Michael, big drool of envy over that last example you posted.
Never seen one like it and i love it!

[jonng]

I like all these variations. Here's what I currently have. Any more out there?

[VVV]

Originally Posted by David

Michael, big drool of envy over that last example you posted.
Never seen one like it and i love it!

David,

Neither have I (which makes it a problem to identify).
For some reasons the pictures has changed place over night???

Nice hilts Jonng!

The first is also very interesting because it shows the belly and the meander belt.

Michael

[tunggulametung]

Originally Posted by VVV

Here are four other variations.
The first two are the more obvious Rakshasas, both with friendly smiles.
The third is the more hidden "Putra Satu" and the last one could be a Yaksha?
I haven't seen a female Rakshasi on a keris hilt, only male.

Michael

Michael, I remember the so considered Yaksha hilt in Kampungnet forum. If I may learn from you, what makes you think that the character is Yaksha? I remember that this hilt has a tail like design on its back, and always thought that its a wanara, a monkey like Hanoman etc. But I think the answer is on the leaf and flower being caried, the mudra or the gesture.

Drd, I think we may consider the stylized uppermost (lotus?) flower on its back as the garuda face, the rest is probably purely decorative. But since you mention that its a modern piece, probably the maker don't know what he's doing, I mean the phylosophy behind it, just like the rest of us.

[VVV]

Originally Posted by tunggulametung

Michael, I remember the so considered Yaksha hilt in Kampungnet forum. If I may learn from you, what makes you think that the character is Yaksha? I remember that this hilt has a tail like design on its back, and always thought that its a wanara, a monkey like Hanoman etc. But I think the answer is on the leaf and flower being caried, the mudra or the gesture.

Here is the hilt from the left, back and right side too.
As you can see there are several flowers with stalks on the hilt,
more than "usual", so I suspect that there is a reason for it?
Also it looks to me like vines and branches of a tree.
What he holds in its hands is a puzzle but maybe it could be a Kayon?

A Yaksha, translated as a ghost in Dictionary of Hindu Lore and
Legend, are connected to the creative forces of a deity.

"It eventually became a collective noun for mysterious semi-divine
beeings, who can assume any form at will, living in forests, trees,
caves and jungles and play a prominent role in Indian mythology and
folklore. They were said to inhabit the sacred tree in each village
and to protect the prosperity and well-being of the community."

It also says that some of the yakshas

"...were assimilated into main deites, such as Shiva, as exemplified by his epithet
Virupaksha, which originally was the name of a yaksha."

But I am open to ther suggestions?

Michael