Keris is a traditional weapon originated in Java. It is a short blade with two edges, sometimes with curves on them. It dates back from the 9th century and is shown on some reliefs on temples around Java.
Among the Javanese, Keris is highly valued. It is not just a weapon, but also a symbol for greatness or class in society. Only high profilers have the good ones. Some people measure it by looking at the amount of curves, the type of material it’s made of, or the existence of fingerprints on it (some are made magically by hands).
But keep in mind that it is NOT at all a functional weapon. If you like weapons like Katana, you will be disappointed in Keris. Very rarely does Keris show such perfection as Katana’s. Even the most famous ones are rough, dented, and heavily ornamented by reliefs. It is still a weapon of cultural beauty, especially for me, but it doesn’t look like it can cut well. It has a short range, funny hilt, and involves awkward positions to use that might as well hurt the wielder rather than the opponent.
The true strength of Keris lies on its mystical powers.
A Keris is never used early in a fight. It is reserved for the last moment; a last desperate attempt at a seemingly winning enemy. It is a tide turner. Even at a full scale wars. Its magical properties are so horrific and terrifying that it should only be used only when you really have to.
Its magic usually comes from the spirit that resides within. That’s why a good Keris has a name. It is considered as a living thing. The master can speak to it or ask for advices. Communication is usually done through dreams, just like the first time the master had it.
When someone has a Keris made for him/her, there are rituals that must be made. One of them involves sleeping with the weapon for a few days. If the master has nightmares, the weapon will only bring bad luck for him/her; and if the master has good dreams, the weapon will bring good luck to him/her.
As you can see, there’s a tight bond between Keris and its master; a bond that sometimes so tight, it can not be broken by death. This is the case with my great grandfather. He couldn’t die when he was supposed to, tormented in the state of not dead nor living for days, because his weapon wouldn’t let him. Only after his family did some rituals the bond was broken, and he died in peace.
In the Mahabharata, Keris is even shown to reanimate the master’s dead body in no less than two occasions.
One occasion is when Karna died after Arjuna struck his neck with his arrow. To his surprise, Karna’s body remained at still. Even the supposedly decapitated head was still on its place.
It turned out that Karna’s Keris took control of his body and keep it intact. It even spoke Karna’s voice to get Arjuna closer.
When he did move himself closer, it quickly flew from its scabbard and went directly to Arjuna. The only thing that saved him at the time was Kresna, pulling him away at the right time.
Keris is not just a symbol or a mystical weapon, it is also a loyal companion. Even after death.
Among the Javanese, Keris is highly valued. It is not just a weapon, but also a symbol for greatness or class in society. Only high profilers have the good ones. Some people measure it by looking at the amount of curves, the type of material it’s made of, or the existence of fingerprints on it (some are made magically by hands).
But keep in mind that it is NOT at all a functional weapon. If you like weapons like Katana, you will be disappointed in Keris. Very rarely does Keris show such perfection as Katana’s. Even the most famous ones are rough, dented, and heavily ornamented by reliefs. It is still a weapon of cultural beauty, especially for me, but it doesn’t look like it can cut well. It has a short range, funny hilt, and involves awkward positions to use that might as well hurt the wielder rather than the opponent.
The true strength of Keris lies on its mystical powers.
A Keris is never used early in a fight. It is reserved for the last moment; a last desperate attempt at a seemingly winning enemy. It is a tide turner. Even at a full scale wars. Its magical properties are so horrific and terrifying that it should only be used only when you really have to.
Its magic usually comes from the spirit that resides within. That’s why a good Keris has a name. It is considered as a living thing. The master can speak to it or ask for advices. Communication is usually done through dreams, just like the first time the master had it.
When someone has a Keris made for him/her, there are rituals that must be made. One of them involves sleeping with the weapon for a few days. If the master has nightmares, the weapon will only bring bad luck for him/her; and if the master has good dreams, the weapon will bring good luck to him/her.
As you can see, there’s a tight bond between Keris and its master; a bond that sometimes so tight, it can not be broken by death. This is the case with my great grandfather. He couldn’t die when he was supposed to, tormented in the state of not dead nor living for days, because his weapon wouldn’t let him. Only after his family did some rituals the bond was broken, and he died in peace.
In the Mahabharata, Keris is even shown to reanimate the master’s dead body in no less than two occasions.
One occasion is when Karna died after Arjuna struck his neck with his arrow. To his surprise, Karna’s body remained at still. Even the supposedly decapitated head was still on its place.
It turned out that Karna’s Keris took control of his body and keep it intact. It even spoke Karna’s voice to get Arjuna closer.
When he did move himself closer, it quickly flew from its scabbard and went directly to Arjuna. The only thing that saved him at the time was Kresna, pulling him away at the right time.
Keris is not just a symbol or a mystical weapon, it is also a loyal companion. Even after death.
So that is why you'll never find any keris fencing school hahaha...because it is dysfunctional...and that is also why keris hardly catch my fascination, because it certainly not my type of weapon...it is more as a symbolic cultural heritage..
ReplyDeleteas for the mystical property of keris...no comment..hahaha
And about the Mahabarata thing...if it really mentioned in the story...does that mean that Keris is also known in Hinduism??originated from India??
yep, sometimes it can stand on its tip when they are told to.
ReplyDeletescary.
about the Mahabharata thing, I actually don't know. a very good question. must search for it.
Keris is a southeast Asian thing. maybe in the original story it was another type of dagger.
anyway, Javanese Mahabharata sometimes differs heavily than the original. Not only the plot, but the philosophy also.
PS: Karna's Keris is named Kyai Jalak. This version is very Javanese as you can see.
hoo now it makes alot of sense, i used to think that this short weapon are used by midgets until they evolve to semi midgets and when KFC came with their hormones injected chickens the weapon became merely an accesory.
ReplyDeletethe keris is loyal almost like a dog wakakakakak
o yeah FYI there are people here in borneo who thinks some weapon makes them invurneable they slice their skin with blades and don't bleed!(i watch it in some amateur-handphone video) one of the dude came to the hospital bragging about the mistic thingy..you should see how the no.11 scalpel knives slice him like a butter bwahahahahaha
so i don't mean to be rude but i guess there's no such thing as miystical weapon..maybe there's a mistical human??i don't know (^_^)
stupid.
ReplyDelete"you should see how the no.11 scalpel knives slice him like a butter bwahahahahaha"
ReplyDeleteU know what...you should made an article out of this and we can laugh our ass from dusk till dawn..hahahahaha....
@Tuz: what is ur grandpa elite mystical force/army called?
ReplyDeletepatangpuluhan.
ReplyDeleteas in the forty soldiers.
come one, then keris is actually an India original weapon :D
ReplyDeletejavanese version does differ from the original version
ReplyDeletei regret to say this, but javanese culture tend to take everething that influence it and patch it with their own culture....in the end long live javanese
really? I believed its origin was south east Asian.
ReplyDeleteanyway, Javanese has a mostly strong identity. too bad I can't say the same to its spirituality. it's widely forgotten.
yeah I agree with you
ReplyDeletefor a culture, Javanese is great, it almost become the most influencial culture in Indonesia