Rajah Kalacakra Keris

Jean · 7th November 2016, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by satsujinken

Hi all

the story goes that the owner got his keris as heritage from his grandfather, who got it from his grandfather. The said keris was born plain, but since his great great grandfather fought well in a battle against the foreigner, the Sultan requested that his keris were carved with scorpions and decorated with gold as symbol of bravery and citation from the king (kinda like medal of honor, I presume)

thank you
Donny

Hello Donny,
This story seems to be a variation of the one about Sultan Agung rewarding his war heroes by allowing them to have a carved singa (lion) decorated with gold kinatah on the gandik of their krisses. The kalacakra motif is well-known in Central Java but this one is not very finely made IMO.
Regards

David · 7th November 2016, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jean

The kalacakra motif is well-known in Central Java but this one is not very finely made IMO.

So, are you and Donny identifying this scorpion symbol as a Buddhist symbol by referring to it as a "kalacakra motif" (Rajah Kalacakra)? Just to be clear for those who may not have studies such things, "kalacakra", is not a name for this particular scorpion symbol, but rather a sanskrit word for the "wheel of time" as it relates to Vajrayana Buddhism. The "Rajah" of the name Donny was given would refer, of course, to a royal entity.
As for the quality of the carving for the base of this kinatah, i agree that it is not exceptional. Do you think that is an indication of when it may have been applied.
I have seen this symbol before on both new and old blades. David van Duuren shows a blade with scorpion kinatah in "A Critical Bibliography" and better photos of that same keris can be found in the latest addition of Groneman's "The Javanese Kris". Frankly, the carving of that scorpion is even inferior to this one.

Amuk Murugul · 8th November 2016, 03:08 AM

Hullo Everybody!

Just a comment from a different perspective:

- Rajah=WAQAF/WIQIF/AZIMAH: An inanimate object created by a*person of high spiritual ability; can be decorated with script/symbols/graphics

-wrt object of initial post:
Kala=kaladjengking=scorpion in defensive stance=symbolising facing a mortal threat; gold/yellow to symbolise power
Cakra= symbolises metaphysical energy

Sorry to be so brief. Hope it helps.

Best,

A. G. Maisey · 8th November 2016, 05:27 AM

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

Jean · 8th November 2016, 08:50 AM

Thank you Amuk and Alan for these clarifications!

Regards

8th November 2016, 03:08 AM	#3
Amuk Murugul Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Kaboejoetan Galoenggoeng Mélben Posts: 472	Metaphysical point-of-view Hullo Everybody! Just a comment from a different perspective: - Rajah=WAQAF/WIQIF/AZIMAH: An inanimate object created by aperson of high spiritual ability; can be decorated with script/symbols/graphics -wrt object of initial post: Kala=kaladjengking=scorpion in defensive stance=symbolising facing a mortal threat; gold/yellow to symbolise power Cakra= symbolises metaphysical energy Sorry to be so brief. Hope it helps. Best, Last edited by Amuk Murugul; 8th November 2016 at 03:59 AM.*

8th November 2016, 05:27 AM	#4
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,992	clarification 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 Last edited by A. G. Maisey; 8th November 2016 at 07:39 AM.

8th November 2016, 08:50 AM	#5
Jean Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 1,740	Thank you Amuk and Alan for these clarifications! Regards