Export of iron from SE Asia

[Kiai Carita]

Originally Posted by Jens Nordlunde

Hi Kiai,

In the book 'Hindu Arms and Rituals' by Robert Elgood you can see stone sculptures armed with a dagger on page 122-23. Due to copyright I can't show the pictures, but the text under one of the pictures reads: Stone sculpture of Raghunatha Nayaka (1600-34) with sword and kris, in the Rama Temple, Kumbakonam, built c. 1610.

Thank you Jens, I have never heard of Robert Elgood. Does the picture of the dagger have a ganja? Does the blade bow forward? Was the temple built in 1610? Was the keris there an influence from Java rather than the other way around?

Java legends remember Aji Saka coming from Hindustan and releasing Java from the canibalism of Dewata Cengkar. Aji Saka was said to have brought a keris with him. Java kerisologi has the origin of the keris in the times of the gods. I think the name of the first Mpu was Mpu Angganjali meaning the Owner of Knowledge (Mpu) who Put The Ganja on.

Salam keris