Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post

Pusaka · 28th February 2019, 09:02 PM

I did a search on here for "Rerajahan" and it came up with zero results. Well it is arguably the most important aspect of the Keris so I decided to start this thread with some basic knowledge on the subject as I understand it.

So what is Rerajahan? During the construction of a keris there are two aspects.

The physical aspect, knowledge of blacksmithing, pamor making, metallurgy, carving, dapur, geometry, art, anatomy, chemical treatment etc etc

using the above skills you can produce a fine keris physically, a work of art but according to traditional belief beautiful as it maybe what you have produced is a keris mati, a dead keris. Most newly made keris today are like this actually.

A Living keris (keris hidup) on the other hand is an enchanted weapon. It is empowered by offerings to the Gods/spirits, mantra and Rerajahan.

Really the outer palmor and dapur are only visible indications which tells us the character of the Rerajahan and mantras used to empower the keris because depending on the specific requirements of the user these can be altered.

Really the soul of the keris is the Rerajahan which is given shakti (power) by reciting mantras over the keris during its construction.

A Rerajahan is a mystical diagram which pictorially represents the intention the Pande/Empu has for the keris. In western magic we would call it a sigil, a mystical digram that represents the spiritual purpose of the keris, its program if you like. You can think of the physical keris as being the hardware and the mantra/Rerajahan as the software.

During the construction of the keris the Pande/Empu takes a special stylus in hand and traces the Rerajahan diagram into the metal with intense mental concentration. This will form the core of the keris blade. It is the non seen aspect of the keris the only way after construction to know the character of the Rerajahan used is clues in the pamor, dapur. The pamor, dapur always matches the Rerajahan. If someone is skilled in ilmu batin (Science of the heart) they can "read" the character of the keris using their rasa. Other then that dreams received whilst the keris is placed under your pillow can give clues.

Once the keris is awakened (basupati) it is a living thing having a purpose, a name and should be respected (but not worshipped). It must be sustained with the fragrant smoke and oil of botanical origin. You must no use industrial chemical/oils on the blade as it acts as a poison to the isi.

What is the isi but the mantra empowered Rerajahan which resides in the keris. A keris in reality is nothing but a Jimat in the form of a dagger.

28th February 2019, 09:02 PM	#1
Pusaka Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 341	Rerajahan soul of the keris I did a search on here for "Rerajahan" and it came up with zero results. Well it is arguably the most important aspect of the Keris so I decided to start this thread with some basic knowledge on the subject as I understand it. So what is Rerajahan? During the construction of a keris there are two aspects. The physical aspect, knowledge of blacksmithing, pamor making, metallurgy, carving, dapur, geometry, art, anatomy, chemical treatment etc etc using the above skills you can produce a fine keris physically, a work of art but according to traditional belief beautiful as it maybe what you have produced is a keris mati, a dead keris. Most newly made keris today are like this actually. A Living keris (keris hidup) on the other hand is an enchanted weapon. It is empowered by offerings to the Gods/spirits, mantra and Rerajahan. Really the outer palmor and dapur are only visible indications which tells us the character of the Rerajahan and mantras used to empower the keris because depending on the specific requirements of the user these can be altered. Really the soul of the keris is the Rerajahan which is given shakti (power) by reciting mantras over the keris during its construction. A Rerajahan is a mystical diagram which pictorially represents the intention the Pande/Empu has for the keris. In western magic we would call it a sigil, a mystical digram that represents the spiritual purpose of the keris, its program if you like. You can think of the physical keris as being the hardware and the mantra/Rerajahan as the software. During the construction of the keris the Pande/Empu takes a special stylus in hand and traces the Rerajahan diagram into the metal with intense mental concentration. This will form the core of the keris blade. It is the non seen aspect of the keris the only way after construction to know the character of the Rerajahan used is clues in the pamor, dapur. The pamor, dapur always matches the Rerajahan. If someone is skilled in ilmu batin (Science of the heart) they can "read" the character of the keris using their rasa. Other then that dreams received whilst the keris is placed under your pillow can give clues. Once the keris is awakened (basupati) it is a living thing having a purpose, a name and should be respected (but not worshipped). It must be sustained with the fragrant smoke and oil of botanical origin. You must no use industrial chemical/oils on the blade as it acts as a poison to the isi. What is the isi but the mantra empowered Rerajahan which resides in the keris. A keris in reality is nothing but a Jimat in the form of a dagger.