Keeping a keris for protection

[PenangsangII]

Originally Posted by David

Djinn would probably not be considered the same as isi, especially in an Islamic culture. They are creatures of free will who go were they please and don't necessarily serve humankind in the same ways that the isi of a keris is expected to.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genie

Thanks David for the url.......well you can offer something in return to the Djinn in order for them to serve you.... And of course it's against islamic teaching.

However, when we talk about keris which from general understanding, comes from vedic culture, mixed with local animism and Islam......the thing about Djinn that can become our servant cannot be discounted.

Generally speaking, when an empu forges a keris, he would perform certain ritual such as mutih fasting, patigeni, meditation etc, and recites special prayers to imbue special power into the keris, called the "isi". In my limited knowledge, the actions undertaken by the empu is actually calling unseen being (normally Djinn) to reside in the keris, and would help the keris owner depending on the reason why the keris was ordered by the owner in the first place, i.e. commerce, protection, war etc etc. Depending on the "ilmu" of the empu. and later on the owner, the power of the "isi" or Djinn may vary from one keris to another....

Just my 0.02 cents.

[David]

Originally Posted by PenangsangII

Thanks David for the url.......well you can offer something in return to the Djinn in order for them to serve you.... And of course it's against islamic teaching.

However, when we talk about keris which from general understanding, comes from vedic culture, mixed with local animism and Islam......the thing about Djinn that can become our servant cannot be discounted.

Well Penangsang, i didn't actually "discount" anything. What i wrote was that they "don't necessarily serve humankind in the same ways that the isi of a keris is expected to".
This is not to say that a Djinn could not get into a keris either, but i am not convinced that this particular type of spirit is the same that empus once embued into keris.
It should also be kept in mind that very,very few of the keris (if any) in most of our merger collections (yes, some of you lucky devils are exceptions) were actually made by empus. Most of even the good ones were probably made by highly skilled village smiths. Whether these were given the same type of spiritual attention as an empu made piece is highly debateable, but this doesn't mean that these keris do not hold energy from other sources such as the continued practice of holding and honoring the keris by it's owners passed down over generations.

[Pusaka]

I know some of you guys have loads of keris, hundreds! If you believe this then your house must have several spirits either helping or trying to kill you

You dont necessarily need an adept to tell you if a keris is good or not, some people put the keris under their pillow when they first get it. If their dreams are bad they simply get the keris out of their house.

Any of you ever own a keris you thought was bad?

I'm not sure I understand what an isi is, can someone give me the English equivalent? Is it a created intelligence made with the empu's sakti through the help of a mantra etc or is it a natural spirit invited to have a connection with the keris?

[David]

Originally Posted by Pusaka

I'm not sure I understand what an isi is, can someone give me the English equivalent? Is it a created intelligence made with the empu's sakti through the help of a mantra etc or is it a natural spirit invited to have a connection with the keris?

I believe that the literal translation is "fill up", but of course, as with all things keris, once you apply it to this sphere of thinking that definition is not quite as telling as one might like.
Personally i have never met a keris that i have thought has "bad" energy or spirits. I would say that this is because of my close-minded Western way of looking at the universe, however, i happen to be a true believer in the unseen worlds and do not hold the general Western concept that all this is merely superstition and nonsense. But i have over 40 keris in my house and i have never had any trouble with any of them. Some i am sure i can sense energy in, some i have personally put energy into, while others seem more quite. All of them are appreciated though, treated with respect and oiled and incensed regularly. Maybe that is what keeps them on there best behavior.

[Pusaka]

David,

Your right there are many things you could fill up a keris with, oil, sent,spirits, wishes etc

If any of you have watched the dvd "the ring of fire" you will probably recognise the guy in the video link I have provided. At one point in this new footage he communicates with the keris isi and as a result the keris moves all by itself.
I know it could be faked but I think I believe in him

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Aos0hnwiHt8

[pakana]

Originally Posted by Pusaka

David,

Your right there are many things you could fill up a keris with, oil, sent,spirits, wishes etc

If any of you have watched the dvd "the ring of fire" you will probably recognise the guy in the video link I have provided. At one point in this new footage he communicates with the keris isi and as a result the keris moves all by itself.
I know it could be faked but I think I believe in him

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Aos0hnwiHt8

Oh yes, he is true

[David]

Originally Posted by Pusaka

If any of you have watched the dvd "the ring of fire" you will probably recognise the guy in the video link I have provided. At one point in this new footage he communicates with the keris isi and as a result the keris moves all by itself.
I know it could be faked but I think I believe in him

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Aos0hnwiHt8

The man certain does seem to have some real skills, though i wonder if the movement in the keris isn't more a testament to his power rather than the keris.

[Pusaka]

Yes your probably right, the keris moved at the same time his hand moved across the edge of the table so I think he is using his sakti/prana to do this.
Some skill he has got there

[PenangsangII]

Originally Posted by David

The man certain does seem to have some real skills, though i wonder if the movement in the keris isn't more a testament to his power rather than the keris.

It's the combination between the keris & the owner's powers

The idea of forging or owning a keris in the olden days was compatibility between the owner & the keris. It's some kind of an alter ego of the owner.

[Pusaka]

Originally Posted by David

All of them are appreciated though, treated with respect and oiled and incensed regularly.

David may I ask what incense you burn for the keris? I would be interested to know what others use also. Is there one which is considered traditional for this purpose?

[David]

I try to use sandalwood when i can though i have used others including nag champa. I prefer to use the woodier scents as opposed to sweet fragrances. Ultimately i think it is more about intention than the actual scent and whatever you decide is best for you and your keris will be best for you.

[pakana]

I think that it's more preferable natural scent incense, and that is what I use, not vanilla for example..But as david said, the intention and the positive feeling towards the keris is most important..

It is strange however that in all cultures globaly, the sense of smell is the most important when it comes to spirits.. and to humans of course, since the smell is the sense of "memory"..

George