[A. G. Maisey]

Whenever we seek to interpret a Javanese symbol there is one thing that must be uppermost in our minds:- Javanese symbolism is multi-symbolism, in other words, the same symbol can mean different things depending upon context.

The Cakra came into Javanese symbolism from India, and even in India it had many interpretations available.

At the very beginning it seems to have been a symbol of the Sun, but as time progressed this symbolism diversified and we find it symbolising various other things, in various contexts, both religious and profane.

The scorpion motif in Javanese art is a difficult one to understand. I have had a number of different interpretations given to me, but I have yet to find authoritative confirmation of any of these interpretations.

I cannot find this motif in ancient art works from the Early Classical, or from the Late Classical, which tends to cause me to believe that in Jawa this motif was inherited from Middle Eastern origins, rather than from Hindu origins. There is a lot of scorpion symbolism in Middle East belief, there is very little scorpion symbolism in Hindu belief.

However, the most frequent interpretation that I have had from informants is that the scorpion is a symbol for sex. In India, one of the interpretations of the scorpion motif is also that it represents sex and/or is associated with sex.

The Kala Cakra motif is, as Jean remarks, well known in Jawa, not only in Central Jawa, but also in East Jawa, I am uncertain about other parts of Jawa. It is a motif that is believed to possess powerful talismanic qualities, in Javanese such a motif is known as "rajah" (note:- always with the "h"). Those talismanic qualities appear to be quite specific and they provide protection against black magic and against being troubled by creatures from the unseen world. It is important to understand that the name of the motif is two words:- "kala cakra", not one word:- "kalacakra".

The actual meaning of "kalacakra" is in fact "The Sun", it is literary usage, it is not found in normal Javanese speech.So, when we consider the name of the motif "Kalacakra" what we have is a motif that represents the Sun, but if the motif is "Kala Cakra" --- well, we have something different. Javanese people love to play with words, and those words do not always mean quite what we may think they mean, but they do mean exactly what the Javanese person wants them to mean. A bit like Humpty Dumpty.

But to return to my first paragraph:- Javanese symbolism is multi symbolism, so although the name Kalacakra in fact means The Sun, when we separate that word into its two component parts we have "kala cakra":- "kala" in Javanese means a stinging animal, and in the kala cakra motif that stinging animal is represented by the scorpion, the name of a scorpion in Javanese is "kalajengkring". The cakra has a number of ways in which to understand it, but in the context of its placement on a keris, and its talismanic value, it might be able to be understood as being associated with both The Sun and as the Sudarsono Cakra of Vishnu, which is one of Vishnu's weapons, a discus with serrated edges.

In fact, this motif has nothing at all to do with bravery or with warriors, it is pure and simple a protective device against black magic and nasty creatures from the other world.

Maybe the Sultan was concerned about the ongoing well being of his subject, so he told him to put this protective motif on his keris to protect his (ie, the Sultan's) valuable asset (ie, the custodian of the keris).

But in respect of this particular keris I feel that there are still even more interesting unanswered questions.

Edit
I just re-read what I have posted here, and I thought I'd better add this clarification of the word "rajah"

in Indonesian this word has several meanings:- a design with esoteric qualities, a tattoo, the lines on the palm of your hand

in Javanese it means:- a magical drawing, the lines on the palm of your hand, it also has a second meaning --- lust or passion

in Balinese (dictionary meaning):-1) to write or draw magically powerful things; 2) to be full of passion for worldly power

"rajah" is not an alternate spelling of "raja" in these languages