keris sajen majapahit marks

[David]

Ha, i was just going to link that post for Pusaka, Alan. You beat me to the punch…or rather "picit"…

[Pusaka]

I read it before I posted But it does not answer my question about a numerical study of these markings, I think they are blessing markings and are a permanent feature of a blessing that has taken place (the real ones, not the faked ones).

[David]

Well, i suppose one could call them "blessing markings". I have always considered the act to be one way in which the empu "charges" the keris. I have a few of these which i am pretty sure are the real deal. None of them are keris sajen btw, but they are fairly early talismanic blades. One has 3 imprints (2 on on side and one on the other). I also have one with 5 which all seem to have been pressed from the same side. I think that with most things relating to keris the key factor in that the number of imprints will be odd just as with the number of luk. But yes, this is indeed, most probably a spiritual/magickal act by the empu. It may not serve the same purpose or be meant to deliver the same exact energy into the blade in each and every case though. I would think that the exact nature/purpose of the act will probably not be discernible at this point in time however.

[Pusaka]

I call them blessing marks just for want of a better word but they are actually produced during the process of transforming a keris from a dead keris to an alive keris, or if you prefer a charged keris.

The esoteric method of doing this is still known to some and is a very secret thing if you are passed this information.

[David]

Originally Posted by Pusaka

I call them blessing marks just for want of a better word but they are actually produced during the process of transforming a keris from a dead keris to an alive keris, or if you prefer a charged keris.

Keris Picit are a relatively rare thing to encounter and there are a great many keris that have been produced over that ages that have been forged without such marks that i am sure were considered to be "alive" by their makers so obviously pressing one's fingers into hot molten iron was not the only method for imbuing spirit into a blade.

Originally Posted by Pusaka

The esoteric method of doing this is still known to some and is a very secret thing if you are passed this information.

Unless you have some direct knowledge of this you would like to share i will remain of the mind "perhaps/perhaps not". I certainly cannot say that i have seen any recently made keris picit created by any modern day empu (a rather dwindling company to be sure) that lay claim to it being a "living" keris. What i have seen produced by those few who lay claim to the title of empu are more along the the lines of modern form artistic pieces which may well be imbued with "spirit", but are not the more archaic forms of picit or sajen keris. Talismanic keris such as the picit were created to serve very specific purposes in the lives of their caretakers, purposes that are perhaps less needed in today's modern Indonesian society. Talismanic keris are most often not particularly "pretty" things, at least not in the usually accepted guidelines of what makes a "good" keris, which could be why modern empus are not usually asked to make them. I can only speculate, but i would image that the exact formula of prayer, meditation, fasting, work days of the week and numerical values that may have been employed to create a keris picit changed somewhat for each specific purpose and person that keris was being devised for so i see little practical use in alluding to "THE" esoteric method that may have been used to produce these very interesting blades, especially since these secrets will undoubtably never be shared here even if they are still known.

[Pusaka]

I did not mean that in order to make a keris alive you need to stick your fingers into molten metal but the method of making a keris come alive involves pinching the keris blade between thumb and index finger a particular number of times along the length of the blade whilst reciting mantra.
This is done over a period of a specific number of days after which the kris is said to be alive. I cant be more specific than that as am not allowed, but you will understand the significance of the number of indents.

[David]

Originally Posted by Pusaka

I did not mean that in order to make a keris alive you need to stick your fingers into molten metal but the method of making a keris come alive involves pinching the keris blade between thumb and index finger a particular number of times along the length of the blade whilst reciting mantra.

Pusaka, in order to leave an imprint in the blade with your fingers the iron of the blade would indeed need to be very, very hot and still soft (i concede that "molten" may have been the wrong word). It is, of course, possible that this same process is done to imbue spirit in cooled non-picit blades, but there would be no imprint from the process there as evidence.

Originally Posted by Pusaka

This is done over a period of a specific number of days after which the kris is said to be alive. I cant be more specific than that as am not allowed, but you will understand the significance of the number of indents.

Forgive me, i was not aware that perhaps one of the greatest secrets of the ancient keris making world had been shared with you. I, for one, would certainly not suggest that you ever break such a sacred vow.