Keris Banjarmasin

Alam Shah · 18th September 2006, 02:17 PM

What Marco is referring to, is in Zonneveld's book, on page:68, Fig:255, labelled "South Kalimantan, collected in Banjarmasin, Bronze. H. 7.3cm", there is a hilt in the form of a raksasa in a squatting position. It looks like a mix between North Coast's, Tegal and Cirebon hilt form.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marcokeris

In "hulu keris" there is a picture in the in the chapter of jawa (?) handle.

In Suhartono Rahardjo's Ragam Hulu Keris Sejak Zaman Kerajaan book, Pg:25, Fig:33, labelled "Banjarmasin model Raksasa dari casting Brons dengan rangkaian batu permata", which literally translated, Banjarmasin raksasa model made from cast bronze with a row of cut precious stones. Hmmm... I have not seen this form before.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marcokeris

In the last M. Kerner book (i dont remember the name of the book because is is in deutsche language but ...is only about handles of private collectors) there is a photo in Banjarmasin section.

The Martin Kerner's book is "Keris-Griffe - aus dem malayischen Archipel" Pg:25/59, Fig:16,53. Only have these references to the Banjarmasin hilt form that was already identified... no raksasa banjarmasin hilt unless you're referring to the one on pg:26, Fig:17 which refers to a Bhuta Nawasari form.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marcokeris

I put also another photo: it is a picture of an ivory handle discovered in Bali. In my opinion this handle is made in Jawa but it has something similar to the Banjarmasin raksasas.

You mean the big nose?

VVV · 18th September 2006, 05:57 PM

Thanks Marcokeris and Alam Shah,

Obviously I went through the books to fast last night when responding.

Shahrial, isn't Bhuta Nawasari a Raksasa prince or an incarnation of Shiva Bhairava?

As a collector of Visayan swords it's interesting to see the resemblence of the Leiden Keris hilt to the deity hilts of those swords?

Maybe those hilts are from the time when the Javanese Hindu influence was dominating Banjarmasin?

Michael

David · 18th September 2006, 09:23 PM

Michael, why do you feel that the ivory hilt is not from Bali?

VVV · 18th September 2006, 10:42 PM

David,

Sorry, but I never commented the ivory hilt, found in Bali, above?
I wanted to focus on Banjarmasin in this thread.
Maybe some misunderstanding of what I wrote because English is not my native tongue?
But now when you bring it up it looks to me more like an East Javanese Nawasari (a blood drinking demon)? Also the bottom part of the hilt is not the usual shape to fit a Balinese Selut?
But I am aware of that there was a lot of cultural exchange between the old Hindu kingdom of Balambangan, East Java, and the neighbouring Bali so it's really hard to say for sure...

Michael

David · 18th September 2006, 11:55 PM

Sorry Michael, my bad. Marco made that comment when he posted the picture originally.

Alam Shah · 19th September 2006, 03:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VVV

Shahrial, isn't Bhuta Nawasari a Raksasa prince or an incarnation of Shiva Bhairava?

Maybe those hilts are from the time when the Javanese Hindu influence was dominating Banjarmasin?

With reference from Karsten Sejr Jensen's book, "Den Indonesiske Kris. Et symbolladet vaben", Pg:64-84. (English summary), Bhuta Nawasari or Siva Bhairava or raksasa prince are the same. Correct me if I'm wrong.

David · 19th September 2006, 05:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alam Shah

With reference from Karsten Sejr Jensen's book, "Den Indonesiske Kris. Et symbolladet vaben", Pg:64-84. (English summary), Bhuta Nawasari or Siva Bhairava or raksasa prince are the same. Correct me if I'm wrong.

I don't own this book, but i imagine your take on this reference is correct. I will, however, question the reference itself. Siva Bhairava ia an aspect of the god Siva (though certainly a terrible aspect). Bhuta Nawasari, as prince or king of the raksasa, is a demon. Can gods be demons (or visa versa) in the Hindu religion?

Alam Shah · 19th September 2006, 05:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David

I don't own this book, but i imagine your take on this reference is correct. I will, however, question the reference itself. Siva Bhairava ia an aspect of the god Siva (though certainly a terrible aspect). Bhuta Nawasari, as prince or king of the raksasa, is a demon. Can gods be demons (or visa versa) in the Hindu religion?

It's this book: The Indonesian Kris, A symbol charged weapon, written in Danish with English summaries. Hmmm... while checking the reference, I misunderstoond the meaning...Oppss!

my mistake. I guess the forms are not the same. The hilt form is either one of the 3. Which one, I don't know, sorry. Perhaps others can assist.

VVV · 19th September 2006, 07:00 AM

I think Karsten means that the three aspects are the same - direct, or indirect, manifestations of an aspect of Shiva Bhairavi.

Kerner also mentions this in "the big book" p. 77-81.
The logic seems to be, according to Kerner, that Bhutanata is Shiva as the Lord of the evil spirits. The Bhutas serve Bhutanata as punishers when he is a judge. The Bhutas eat flesh and drink blood. Bhuta Navasari is also known as Raksasa Bhairawa. The Bhairawas are the 8 x 8 terrible manifestations of Shiva.

Michael

Marcokeris · 19th September 2006, 08:04 AM

Alam,
Kerner's book is "keris griffe aus museen und privat sammlungen" pag. 144.

David,
I think the handle comes from Jawa only for a certain similarity with tegal /cirebon handle and for the base of handle that is simply curved without angles (but it is only my impression, my be it comes from Bali. Also the seller didn't know where it comes)

18th September 2006, 10:42 PM	#4
VVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sweden Posts: 1,637	David, Sorry, but I never commented the ivory hilt, found in Bali, above? I wanted to focus on Banjarmasin in this thread. Maybe some misunderstanding of what I wrote because English is not my native tongue? But now when you bring it up it looks to me more like an East Javanese Nawasari (a blood drinking demon)? Also the bottom part of the hilt is not the usual shape to fit a Balinese Selut? But I am aware of that there was a lot of cultural exchange between the old Hindu kingdom of Balambangan, East Java, and the neighbouring Bali so it's really hard to say for sure... Michael Last edited by VVV; 18th September 2006 at 10:58 PM.

18th September 2006, 05:57 PM	#2
VVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sweden Posts: 1,637	Thanks Marcokeris and Alam Shah, Obviously I went through the books to fast last night when responding. Shahrial, isn't Bhuta Nawasari a Raksasa prince or an incarnation of Shiva Bhairava? As a collector of Visayan swords it's interesting to see the resemblence of the Leiden Keris hilt to the deity hilts of those swords? Maybe those hilts are from the time when the Javanese Hindu influence was dominating Banjarmasin? Michael

18th September 2006, 09:23 PM	#3
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,218	Michael, why do you feel that the ivory hilt is not from Bali?

18th September 2006, 11:55 PM	#5
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,218	Sorry Michael, my bad. Marco made that comment when he posted the picture originally.

19th September 2006, 07:00 AM	#9
VVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sweden Posts: 1,637	I think Karsten means that the three aspects are the same - direct, or indirect, manifestations of an aspect of Shiva Bhairavi. Kerner also mentions this in "the big book" p. 77-81. The logic seems to be, according to Kerner, that Bhutanata is Shiva as the Lord of the evil spirits. The Bhutas serve Bhutanata as punishers when he is a judge. The Bhutas eat flesh and drink blood. Bhuta Navasari is also known as Raksasa Bhairawa. The Bhairawas are the 8 x 8 terrible manifestations of Shiva. Michael

19th September 2006, 08:04 AM	#10
Marcokeris Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Italy Posts: 928	Alam, Kerner's book is "keris griffe aus museen und privat sammlungen" pag. 144. David, I think the handle comes from Jawa only for a certain similarity with tegal /cirebon handle and for the base of handle that is simply curved without angles (but it is only my impression, my be it comes from Bali. Also the seller didn't know where it comes)