K i n a t a h (Tinatah -- Gold Ornaments in Keris and Tombak)

[ganjawulung]

Originally Posted by Raden Usman Djogja

According to kinatah motive of Gajah-Singo, I love it. I have been trying to find one of them, the original one. In my believe, a keris with gajah-singo ornament was used by whom involved in Pati War during Pragolopati the Second era. At that time, Mataram defeated sucessfully Pati (but sorrowfully and painfully). As a tribute to heroes, Sultanate allowed them involved in Pati War II ornamenting their kerises with gajah-singo motive. So, it is quite common there are kerises which expected older than Mataram period having kinatah gajah-singo.

Yes Raden,
"Gajah Singa Keris Siji" or "Gajah Singa Keris Tunggal" (Two beast: Elephant and Lion, One Keris) is a "candra sengkala" or Javanese phrases to commemorate a certain year. One must interprate the year (Javanese year, not Masehi year) by reading the phrase from behind. Gajah (8), Singa (5), Keris (5), Tunggal (1). Must be read as the year 1558 lunar year or Javanese year. It means that "the end of Pragola rebellion is in 1636 Masehi".

No wonder, if someday you find a "no good" keris bearing a beautiful ganja of "gajah singa" kinatah. If it is original, then that keris once belonged to a Mataram soldier in the past that had been given by Sultan Agung Anyakrakusuma (reigned Mataram in 1613-1645), the ganja bearing kinatah gajah singa...

Ganjawulung

[A. G. Maisey]

Interesting comments, Ganja, in respect of stylistic preferences between Jogjakarta and Surakarta.

The senior branch of the House of Mataram is Surakarta.

Now, as you have noted, the senior branch prefers a style which calls for renewal of outward appearance, whilst the junior branch of the House of Mataram calls for a style which preserves outward appearance.

In the case of Surakarta, this stylistic preference could be interpreted as a continuation of Hindu-Javanese tradition, as this tradition calls for constant renewal of outward appearance, as can be seen in Bali-Hindu style today.

For instance, the beautiful candis of Jawa that we now admire for their weathered stone, were, in the days when they were newly constructed and used, decorated in vibrant colours.Colours that were constantly renewed as they faded.

On the other hand, the preservation of things of a past time , as we see in Jogjakarta style, is more in tune with the Islamic faith, than with Jawa-Hindu. I am not saying here that Surakarta is aligned to Jawa-Hindu, rather than Islam, but I am saying that the Surakarta style reflects a part of Karaton inheritance and tradition that the founders of Jogjakarta omitted to take with them.

Similarly, some of the stylistic elements of a Jogjakarta keris are reflective of Mataram style, whilst some of the stylistic elements of the Surakarta keris are reflective of Majapahit style.