TALISMANIC KERIS?

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by ganjawulung

Thanks a lot, Sajen, 'BROTHERHOOD' then...
Did you notice, that it is more like "the human's head" than naga's head? Please look at this picture...

GANJAWULUNG

Yes, it needs some phantasy to see a naga head inside, but think that it shall be a naga head. What's surprising that many from this jimat keris have the same naga head and also a very similar pamor. Look for example to the picture I take from this site:http://old.blades.free.fr/home.htm.

sajen

[ganjawulung]

Thanks, Sajen. I like this smaller size sajen too. And from the "smelling" of the blade, and from the former owner, I think that this palm-sized sajen (less than 22 cm) was once used to be a kind of amulet too...


GANJAWULUNG

[Greybeard]

Very interesting thread!

My smallest keris has a blade length of 17,5 cm (without peksi); 7 luk; very simple putut figure at the gandik; pamor ngulit semongko.

Unfortunately I still cannot provide photos ...

Heinz

[sjors]

I realy like these small keris. I hereby send a picture of two small keris of mine.
The "big" one has a blade length of 29 cm, the middle blade is 19 cm long and the smallest one has a blade lenght of 11 cm.

[David]

Originally Posted by ganjawulung

Thanks, Sajen. I like this smaller size sajen too. And from the "smelling" of the blade, and from the former owner, I think that this palm-sized sajen (less than 22 cm) was once used to be a kind of amulet too...


GANJAWULUNG

I'm a little confused her Ganja. What other function would a keris sajen have other than a talismanic one? Isn't it already established that sajen are by their very nature talismanic?
BTW, i love the sheath on this little fellow.

[VVV]

Originally Posted by David

I'm a little confused her Ganja. What other function would a keris sajen have other than a talismanic one? Isn't it already established that sajen are by their very nature talismanic?
BTW, i love the sheath on this little fellow.

The main purpose of a keris sajen is AFAIK as a sacrifice, an offering (like the name says).

Michael

[David]

Originally Posted by VVV

The main purpose of a keris sajen is AFAIK as a sacrifice, an offering (like the name says).

Michael

Michael, is sacrifice not a talismanic purpose. The word is from Middle Greek "telesma", from Greek, consecration, from "telein" to initiate into the mysteries, complete, from "telos" end.
This all seems well in line with "sacrifice", to make sacred.

[VVV]

Originally Posted by David

Michael, is sacrifice not a talismanic purpose. The word is from Middle Greek "telesma", from Greek, consecration, from "telein" to initiate into the mysteries, complete, from "telos" end.
This all seems well in line with "sacrifice", to make sacred.

Well yes and no and you forgot to credit the Arabs, tilsam
There is a difference between the etymological origin and the present meaning.
But maybe we should focus on the keris instead?

Michael

[David]

Originally Posted by VVV

There is a difference between the etymological origin and the present meaning.
But maybe we should focus on the keris instead?

True Michael, so here is Websters present meaning:

1 : an object held to act as a charm to avert evil and bring good fortune
2 : something producing apparently magical or miraculous effects

At least to my way of thinking the purpose of making a sacrifice (perhaps not on the mundane level, but when dealing with spiritual matters) is in fact to bring about a "magical or miraculous effect".
So no Michael, i do not find the etymology of the words meaningless in this case.

Now, if we do return our focus to keris as you suggest, it is obvious that keris sajen have been used in the past as both a personal talisman to be keep and a sacrifical talisman to be, perhaps, thrown into a field in blessing. Just the fact that there are so many well preserved sajen that have been passed down as pusaka shows that many of them are meant to be kept, not "sacrificed" to the fields.

[ganjawulung]

Originally Posted by David

I'm a little confused her Ganja. What other function would a keris sajen have other than a talismanic one? Isn't it already established that sajen are by their very nature talismanic?
BTW, i love the sheath on this little fellow.

Yes, agree. Created as a talismanic. And for sure it was not made as a weapon... The sheath, IMHO not recent Maduran. Or could be Eastern Jawanese?

GANJAWULUNG

[Alam Shah]

How about this type?
Although the hilt is separate, it is still a talismanic piece, imho.