The Mystical Dagger
Who would have thought that a keris could hold so much power?
During my trip to Yogyakarta, I came to understand that a keris is a very common choice of heirloom. It is an article handed down from one generation to the next amongst Javanese royalty, political leaders and also members of the general public. This double-edged dagger is not an uncommon weapon in Southeast Asia, as it has long been synonymous with Malay culture and way of life in the Malay Archipelago.
The traditional art of keris-making has been dutifully preserved in Javanese culture to this very day as the respectable dagger is a sacred symbol of power to its people. The delicate craft incorporates deep spiritual and philosophical elements into both the keris and its prospective owner through the meticulous synchronisation of energy.
In order to gain deeper knowledge of the origin of the keris, I spoke to a member of a royal family as well as a number of researchers, keris makers and enthusiastic collectors.
Li Kim speaks to Gusti Kanjeng Ratu Wandansari, Princess of Surakarta, Solo, about royal heirlooms
I was told by a researcher that the keris today is no longer used for attacking and defending, but rather to keep a man’s desires and spirituality in check. It is crafted to reflect higher wisdom and harmonious living with nature, as well as to serve as a constant reminder to a man to always be close to God.
Through my own research, I found that the energy believed to be existent in the keris is what makes it so mystical. The process of making a keris begins with the keris maker, known as an empu. Prior to the creation of a keris, it is necessary for an empu to undergo a series of spiritual procedures including fasting and meditation to ensure that the energy that he lodges within the dagger is pure and uncontaminated. An empu is forbidden to make a keris if his emotions are unstable – a highly crucial step in ensuring the production of a dagger with eternal power and pure energy.
A keris is manifestly different from a regular dagger because its creation necessitates spiritual methods and a predetermined combination of materials. It could take up to six months to produce a keris as each blade is forged and folded over thousands of times in extreme heat. The more the folds, the more refined and exquisite the design will be. The three metals used in the making of a keris each carries a specific function – steel for sharpness, pamor for aesthetics, and iron which makes up the body of the keris. As these metals do not integrate chemically and are difficult to assemble, when the keris is complete, the result is a dagger with a very high value.
Each keris is created specifically for an individual to match his energy. If compatibility is absent, a keris could pose harm to the owner, causing a change in the owner’s personality and deterioration in his health that could possibly lead to death.
Li Kim and Mas Bagus, a keris maker and anthropologist, discuss the purifying process of a keris
Generally, a keris can be owned in three different ways. Firstly, it is handed down as an heirloom through generations within a bloodline. Secondly, it is created through an empu, and lastly, it is bought or given as a gift. Incompatibility most commonly occurs in the third case, when someone owns a keris before knowing its origin, which can result in a clash in energy levels. When clashes occur, a keris must be cleansed in a purifying ritual called Jamasan that involves whitening, sun-drying, and soaking the dagger in an arsenic solution. However, if a keris has been used to kill someone, it must be disposed of in the sea or melted in fire to completely eradicate the evil powers within.
It is claimed that a powerful keris is one that is assembled by a strong and righteous empu. It possesses the ability to find its rightful owners by presenting itself to them out of thin air. However, there are also keris collectors who have solemnly rejected its spiritual nature, claiming that a keris is nothing more than a collector’s item.
The journey of a keris is intricate and its destination unpredictable. Though many have claimed that these magical daggers have assisted them in achieving success and good fortune, it is essential to understand that the source of true power lies within ourselves, and not from objects.
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This is a very interesting piece of research giving insight into the practice of creating a keris, its relationship with the maker, and owner. What strikes me is that the practice can be framed in terms of the spirit realm, one of the six realms of samsara as described by dharma.
The job of the empu seems to be that of mating the keris with a “matching” spirit in terms of the eventual owner’s personality or energy, with the hopes that it will aid the owner. The empu seems to have the ability to connect with and direct spirits.
In dharma, we learn that due to certain circumstances, spirits from the formless realm can intersect with our (human) realm. It is during these moments when we ‘cross paths’ with the spirit that it becomes an opportunity for the spirit to attach itself to us. One common method is via an object. Because of this and cumulative experience, in many cultures, it is an unsaid rule that antique items or objects with a long history are to be handled with caution.
The fact the keris may take on an “energy” that is evil or harmful to the owner also tells me that keris made this way have spirits attached to it.
Well, it all seems to tie up. If you ever come across a keris or any other object whose energy is ruining your life, you may want to check out the practice of enlightened being Dorje Shugden Trakze.
[https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/buddhas-dharma/trakze-to-dispel-black-magic-spirits.html]
OM BENZA WIKI BITANA RAKYA RAKYA HUNG
So these daggers are similar to the purbha used in vajrakila tantra in that they can fly and return to the owner… and that they are spiritually blessed with mantra
The story of the Keris, reminds me so much about how monks imbue the items they touch with their spiritual power and qualities. That the monks compassion and spiritual power is infused into robes for example. Hence the monk robes can protect others who might be disturbed by malevolent beings or spirits.
Like that it is interesting to know that, an empu imbues the keris with spiritual powers.
Keris, a significant symbol of Malaysia. I like the design of Keris, each of them are unique and beautiful. I used to wish to have my own piece of Keris but I only saw them in the museum and I know they are expensive due to their uniqueness.
The link as following is a 45 minutes video about Keris produced by Discovery Channel.
https://youtu.be/LUNg_Ah2-XY
Dear Rinpoche and Li Kim,
In Malaysia, the Keris is very much associated with the royal family and the status of the person too. The latest installation of Yang DiPertuan Agong, we witnessed His Royal Highness kissing the keris as a symbol of the willingness to assume as the head of states. We can safely deduced that keris has the same ‘magical’ meaning as our neighbourhood country, Indonesia. In the article, it mentioned the sacredness of the making of keris, something similar like making a thangka. I remembered Rinpoche mentioned before that if the thangka is done properly where the person making it has gone through proper retreat, it can actually bring the thangka of deity to live!
From this article, I also learnt that keris was not as what I’ve thought it was. I thought it used during war or during a fight. Looks like it is more like a sacred ornament for those are having it.
Thank you Rinpoche and Li Kim for sharing this
It is always interesting to know the background of each country’s culture. Everytime we mention about Keris I always relates it to Hang Tuah (Malay warrior) period which I read from our history and story book when I was young. Only know Keris is used as a weapon by warriors. Glad that now I have more understanding about Keris usage. Didn’t know that it is being used as a family heirloom and produce certain energy. Thank you Li Kim for sharing this article.
Interesting to note that the keris is meant to be a weapon for spirituality rather than for battle, or should I say, battle with the demon within? In fact, from the article, the keris has to be thrown into the sea or melted after having taken a life with it.
Then again, there are those who do not believe that and treat the keris as another collectible. Then, there will be those who view the keris as another weapon for physical battle in this “real” world.
Personally, I would like to think of it as a physical reminder that we have to battle our demon within and to wield it for spiritual growth for the benefit of not just ourselves but for the benefit of others, that we may bring happiness and peace to them. That, to me, is the real power of the keris.
Interesting article. I do get the feeling that the forging of the keris has some kind of magic involved. I am not sure if it involves dead owners, makers or even elemental beings and it seems very obscure and deliberately left mysterious somehow to add to the mystique of it all.
I am also wondering if they deliberately made it mysterious so it does not become something that is directly magical and therefore sacrilegious to certain religious taboos of dabbling in the occult. Whatever power that belongs to the keris, may it not be misused towards harming others.
Thank you Li kim for this very interesting write up about Dagger (Keris). Something quite new to me. Have heard that Keris is powerful but didn’t know in what sense and whether it was only an old grandmother tale. Anyway,really learnt something from here and it’s very educational. 🙂
The kris is an asymmetrical dagger with distinctive blade wave patterning.The keris is synonymous with the Malay culture and way of life. The double-edged dagger is unique because it is only found within the Malay Archipelago like Southern Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and Southern Philippines.It was once a weapon, now an object of reverence, respect and a symbol for royalty and dignitaries.The traditional art of keris-making has been preserved in all cultures, been passed down fron generations.The keris seem to be powerful and msytical in away .Thats interesting.
Thank you Li Kim for this sharing with much deeper knowledge for us to understand better.
Very interesting article.
I always thought the reason Dorje Shugden hold a Keris like “weapon” and not sword like Manjushri. From this article, from the Mastes of making Keris, the empu to the process of completing it have already involve in spirituality.
Like: The master of making the Keris have to have no emotion, it could mean that, he do not have bias and he is being equanimity while making the Keris. While the process of making Keris need more patient than making ordinary weapon, which took 6 months at least.
An object can use and protection or to harm depend on the user. Thus, the source to harm or to protect is from ourself. Like Keris, it can be use as collection, as protection or even as an object to kill.
I do agree on Li Kim that ” the source of true power lies within ourselves, and not from objects.” We are always the doer of our result
As like all weapons of warfare, the keris should be owned and used with good intentions and motivation. In most cases during ancient times, a warrior would have to be more specific as to how the weapon he owned be made by a pure empu so that the power of his weapon was well instilled. As it was his form of protection or at times of attack of destruction too. The good and evil of weapons of warfare.
In todays wars, weapons such as Keris, swords and daggers may seem obsolete with the advanced jet planes and bombs created.
I was told that during our current times, the keris is not only precious items of heirloom but also when properly purified and blessed they are items of protection against evil and black magic.
Thank you, Likim for sharing this interesting article with us.
Keris, indigenous to Indonesia, Malaysia and few other nations in this region, is indeed a unique dagger with distinctive blade pattern. It appears in the royal and national emblems to symbolize fearlessness and formidability. It is therefore very interesting to learn that the Keris can soak up the energy of the maker (empu) and contain the evil energy when a killing was carried out. It is no wonder in some legends, Keris was depicted as harmful or cursed to the person who owns it. Thank you, Li Kim, for this sharing.
Thank you Li Kim for sharing this article about the mystical dagger. It is interesting to know about the history of the keris. I wouldn’t have given much thought about it until I read this article and about the steps and process from raw material until it’s a complete keris.
With folded palm,
Vivian