beer for warung kopi
 

Hallo keris friend
I did this photo during my last trip in Yogya ;)

I have seen this beer and sometimes glasses with the logo turn up on eBay. Frankly i have mixed feelings. I mean...i like beer! :D But i also wonder if it is the most respectful use of the symbolism of the keris. :shrug:

Well, kerises are found on coins, stamps, kain sampin, t-shirts, and even on fences (I saw such a fence in a Buddhist temple in Kelantan!). They are also brands for batik shirts, perfume, oil. I have a name card holder with a keris, a pewter kris letter opener from Royal Selangor. I've seen keris brooches too. Well, keris beer... not that outrageous, I suppose. :D

Kris is the name of the Singapore Airlines' monthly magazine too.
David beer is alcoholic and to drink a lot of beer maybe could set the drinker in conctat with upperworld or underworld ;) (i have said a joke..... but.. really near some arcaic people alcohol is used during unique ceremony)

Keris appear on stamps and coins as an honoring of the culture. One might be able to say the same about pins and other jewelry. At least those items are not exploiting a cultural symbol to sell a product. I am not really upset by it all, but it makes me wonder how these products are seen from within the culture, especially since it has been my understanding that alcohol comsumption isn't particularly encouraged by most Islamic cultures. :shrug:
I, on the other hand, have had quite a few spiritual experiences with a strong bottle of dark Belgium ale. ;) :D

But the kris is not an exclusively Islamic weapon. It has a huge influence on it for sure, but we must also recognize where the rashaksa hilt on the keris in the poster came from. :)

Well obviously Kai Wee, there is both Hindu and animistic influences for sure, but isn't Indonesia considered for the most part (though not officially) to be an Islamic state?
So what you are saying then is that raksasa were a bunch of beer swigging pagan demons? :eek: ;) :D

It might be a wee bit difficult to try to understand the keris in a modern Indonesian context, as opposed to a traditional Javanese context, and Islam as it is practiced in Jawa as opposed to the Islam, as practiced, in, say Saudi Arabia.

Too often explanations for attitudes are looked for in a dominant religion, when in fact the explanations are cultural, with the religion being only a veneer over a part of the culture.

I feel in respect of the matter of Kriss Beer, we might be wise to simply note the existence of the trade mark and let it go at that.From my perspective, I can see a lot of very shaky ground in front of this discussion, over which I would hesitate to tread. At least, publicly.

Hi all,

Hmmm ....
Reminds me of an old saying: Ada duit, can do it. (i.e. have money, can do) :)

One has to bear in mind that it is increasingly difficult to adhere to/maintain esoteric values/beliefs in the scramble to earn a living and against the tide of captalism and its accompanying 'conspicuous consumption'.

Cheers.

kris=adulthood=bier
 

In ancient time, father would give a kris to his son who had grown into an adult.
In the other hand, by drinking "bier", a boy feels as a man.
Perhaps, the pamphlet was aimed to deliver this combined message to the readers.