Pusaka or heritage in English is an essential part of the socio-cultural setting in Java. In fact, an heirloom given by one’s ancestors or a dominant mentor tends to be a powerful and sacred object that enriches a person physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. This is not only applicable in the East but also in the West whereby a child inherits his father’s hunting knife or a lucky dime that brings good fortune.
In this episode, Li Kim introduces the primeval weapon of the Malay Archipelago known as the Keris, which is said to be a sovereign pusaka that is an empowerment of an external object to represent our inner energy. Every Keris is made specifically for each person by a specialist known as an Empu, who undertakes strict spiritual disciplines. He charges and blesses the Keris with prayers and even places a spirit in the Keris to help the owner. The question remains, what happens if the Keris is used to harm or a negative spirit is placed into the Keris?
In this episode, Li Kim introduces the primeval weapon of the Malay Archipelago known as the Keris, which is said to be a sovereign pusaka that is an empowerment of an external object to represent our inner energy. Every Keris is made specifically for each person by a specialist known as an Empu, who undertakes strict spiritual disciplines. He charges and blesses the Keris with prayers and even places a spirit in the Keris to help the owner. The question remains, what happens if the Keris is used to harm or a negative spirit is placed into the Keris?
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TVTranscript
00:00 An heirloom is a common family heritage that is passed on from one generation to another.
00:06 It is said that these sacred items are instilled with divine blessings, protection and special energies of the ancestors that benefit the recipients.
00:14 In Yogyakarta, a popular heirloom, or pusaka, is the keris, which is a unique Southeast Asian dagger.
00:21 The modern version existed since the 14th century in the Malay archipelago and has since mesmerised the world with its supernatural powers.
00:31 In this episode, we will follow the journey of a keris from the time it is made to how it becomes an object of power sought after by many.
00:39 What is the source of this attraction to this weapon of war?
00:42 Is it spiritual, mystical and what happens when a keris has been bloodstained and becomes evil?
00:49 KERIS
00:54 KERIS
00:56 KERIS
01:02 KERIS
01:09 KERIS
01:19 KERIS
01:22 KERIS
01:24 Tuasan Aji, which means respected iron in Javanese, is a prestigious work of etched weapons in Java.
01:30 The making of the blade is so delicate that the status afforded to it goes beyond that of a normal sword and knife.
01:36 In the case of a keris, spiritual elements are closely associated with both the maker, known as the empu, and the object itself.
01:43 What is so special or even paranormal about a keris, especially the ones that appear out of nowhere, which is a common occurrence in Yogyakarta?
01:51 2003
01:54 One month after I built this building in August 2003, someone from DEMARC came and said an empu or keris maker met with him in a dream and asked him to hand over a keris to me.
02:08 I thought he just wanted money.
02:10 But the keris is physically beautiful and it did originate from Majapahit.
02:15 While I was admiring the keris, the man mysteriously disappeared and never returned until today to claim for any payment.
02:23 I took that keris back to my house and I kept it in my room.
02:30 The next day I noticed a very nasty odor coming from my room and I didn't know why.
02:35 Was it because of that keris?
02:39 In this episode, I will be searching for answers about the mysteries of the keris in Yogyakarta by speaking to the royal family of Surakarta, researchers, keris makers and also collectors of this mystical dagger.
02:54 Accepted and revered as more than a tactical weapon, the keris, which is a popular heirloom in Java, has deep spiritual and philosophical meanings to the Javanese based on the answers of these experts and researchers.
03:05 My first guest is the royal princess of Surakarta in Solo, Gusti Kanjeng Ratu Wan Nansari.
03:11 I would like to understand, princess, what is a royal heirloom?
03:16 To the lay people, an heirloom is probably limited to an object like a keris or a spear.
03:24 But to the royal family, even this palace, the constitution, the laws, the arts and culture all form part of our heritage, which is an heirloom bestowed upon us by our founding king, Penempahan Senopati.
03:38 Java has a shape of a bushaka.
03:44 In Java, amongst all the heirlooms or bushaka, the keris is unique.
03:49 It is sacred and also the heartbeat and the soul of the Javanese.
03:53 It is not a symbol, an accessory or a lifestyle, but an integrated code of conduct that is respected and adhered to forever.
04:02 I am going to speak with an author and researcher, Kijuru Bangunjiwo, who has written an interesting book about the mystery of Suharto's keris.
04:11 What are his opinions about the mystical influence of the keris?
04:16 The keris is no longer used to attack or to defend. It is now a noble spiritual mirror of man, and it is used to control our inner desire to rule and to take over this world based on our greed.
04:29 The keris is crafted to reflect harmonious living with nature.
04:33 In your research and in writing this book, are you saying that a lot of past presidents Suharto's power comes from his heirloom of keris?
04:50 No, that is not what I am saying. What I want to convey is Suharto's strict spiritual practice and conduct that are aligned to the meaning of the keris, which is harmony and higher wisdom.
05:03 The keris is to symbolize man's constant seeking for God that leads every man to victory.
05:09 So far, we are exposed to the external uses and meanings of a keris that are well accepted by the royalty, political leaders and the general public of Java.
05:18 But it does not answer my curiosity on why is a keris so magical and mysterious? What is the source of its power?
05:24 Where does the keris get the power or the energy?
05:30 The Empu or the Keris Maker observes a series of spiritual rules from fasting to meditation to ensure that the energies of this dagger are pure and uncontaminated.
05:43 It does not make the keris when his emotions are unstable. A keris is born through employing the right spiritual methods and by using the right materials, which is very different from how a kitchen knife is made.
05:55 This makes a keris powerful and the energy everlasting.
06:00 So the keris is just a tool or vessel to contain the prayers and wishes of our forefathers and these wishes are passed on to the future generations.
06:13 The prayers are infused by the Empu under stringent spiritual conditions.
06:19 But for the wishes to work, the owner must act in harmony with the prayers of the keris.
06:25 Once this synchronization is fulfilled, the harmonization will result in an incredible power.
06:31 I met with a highly regarded keris maker, Empu Sungkowo, who has been an Empu for 30 years.
06:39 He is the son of a very popular and skilled swordsmith, Empu Jeno Harun Brojo, a royalty and the 17th Empu in line of the Supo Majapahit lineage.
06:49 The making of a keris must be based on faith. In Jawa, the Empu needs to meditate and fast and ask God for guidance and blessings so that the entire ritual is done safely.
07:06 An Empu can only work on one keris each time and it is customized for the person who comes to ask for it.
07:12 It could take 1 to 6 months to complete a keris as some blades are forged and folded over 4,000 times under extreme heat.
07:19 How would you know if this keris that you are making is suitable for that person who is asking you to make the keris?
07:32 When a person who commissions for a keris comes to see me, I will ask for his date of birth and profession.
07:39 From there, I will also observe his character through astrology.
07:43 After finding out his personality, I will decide on the material that will be used to forge a keris that is only meant for him.
07:51 The keris blade is forged using four elements, namely earth, wind, water, fire, under extreme temperature of 1,400 Celsius and above.
07:59 The blade is folded thousands of times. The more times, the more refined and aesthetic the design will be.
08:05 The three metals used in keris making are iron, steel and palmer or meteorite.
08:09 Each with a specific function, with the steel providing the sharpness and the meteorite the design, while the iron which easily weighs 12 kilos would dissipate into ashes.
08:19 The blade would finally be reduced to just 300 to 400 grams.
08:23 It is known in the art of metallurgy that these materials do not mix together chemically.
08:27 Thus, the keris blade is really of high value and difficult to make.
08:31 Technicalities aside, I did have one crucial question for Embu Sungkowo.
08:35 So how does a keris get passed down from generation to generation as an heirloom?
08:42 When obviously there is no guarantee that people of the same generation or family is the same character.
08:51 A keris can be passed on from one generation to another, provided that the beneficiary has a similar character with his ancestor.
09:00 In some cases, there are clashes in personalities and the keris cannot be inherited as such.
09:07 The keris is only kept for collection.
09:10 After examining how a keris is made and the spiritual role played by the Embu,
09:14 it is quite clear that the mystical dimensions of a keris are strong, especially once I learned that the keris is made specifically for an individual to match his energies.
09:23 Once this person passes away, what becomes of the keris may be 300 years later.
09:27 It may end up with a keris buyer whose energy is not compatible.
09:31 I was told that bad things can happen to this unfortunate new owner.
09:35 We found out that a keris had already killed two of his previous owners.
09:39 [Music]
10:01 This keris has a history of protecting the southern region of Gunung Merapi.
10:07 [Music]
10:10 The name of the keris is Satrio Pinang Dito, with 41 waves or look that is forged and folded for more than 3,000 times.
10:20 It was the keris of Sheikh Jumaldil Kubra who was asked to guard the southern side of the Gunung Merapi,
10:27 which faces the Royal Palace in Yogyakarta for 500 years.
10:32 Sheikh prayed, plunged the keris into the ground and created an invisible barrier to prevent the eruptions from destroying the palace.
10:41 And in 2010, the keris mysteriously came to me.
10:46 Why and how? I don't know because it is God's will.
10:50 To me, the keris is not an object that I worship, but I appreciate its historical and anthropological values.
10:57 The story told by Gusnas about how the sacred keris came to him is not uncommon in Yogyakarta,
11:03 especially amongst a community of spiritual practitioners.
11:06 But for now, I would like to explore more regarding what happens when the energies between man and dagger are not in harmony.
11:13 What does Mas Bagus, a gifted, ampuh and accomplished anthropologist, have to say about this?
11:18 What will happen if this keris and me are not compatible? The energy does not match.
11:25 It also depends on the keris.
11:27 There are three ways on how you can own a keris.
11:30 The first case relates to the keris that you ordered from an ampuh.
11:34 If it is not compatible with you, then we have to question the ampuh.
11:38 As for the second one, I personally have never heard of stories about a keris that was handed down from generation to generation,
11:46 which is not compatible with the next owner.
11:49 But most of the time, the case is the third one, when you buy a keris or you were given a keris by someone.
11:56 This is when the incompatibility of the keris with your character often occurs.
12:01 What are the symptoms? Do they get sick? Do they get angry? Do they change?
12:08 All the facts that you have just mentioned, all of them can occur actually.
12:15 Someone can change his characters. He can become angry easily or something like that.
12:20 The effects can be bad and death can also happen.
12:23 I was informed that a healer and mystic by the name of Pak Sabdo has recorded a video of a ceremony he conducted
12:30 to identify and remove the negativity that was embedded in a keris.
12:35 Someone from Kalimantan showed me the keris and said there are problems with it.
12:41 Through a medium, I was able to communicate with a spirit that was planted into the keris.
12:46 We found out that the keris had already killed two of its previous owners.
12:50 The spirit is a kodam, or a slave of the person who created the keris about 1,300 years ago.
13:06 He was very powerful and he made a promise to the spirit that it would be released after his job was done.
13:13 But the owner did not keep his words.
13:15 Many people do not know the characteristics of the keris that they own
13:20 because they are attracted to the physical appearance of the keris.
13:24 Therefore, it doesn't mean that the keris is evil,
13:27 but it is the characteristics of the keris that are not suitable or compatible with the new owners.
13:33 We must not desire for a very powerful keris out of greed and pay a high price in order to get it.
13:39 These may bring problems later.
13:42 If the keris is powerful, but the prayers of the ampu are pure, strong and righteous,
13:48 the keris itself will look for a new owner and appear by itself to him.
13:58 Perhaps this explains why certain sacred keris appears out of thin air to sincere and rightful owners,
14:04 possibly of a similar ancestral lineage.
14:06 What is common is that these owners are very humble and almost secretive about these mysterious heirlooms.
14:12 However, sometimes we can be gifted a keris that turned out to be an heirloom of doom.
14:17 Mas Bagus, can you share with me stories of the person or the people that's around this evil keris?
14:28 As a descendant of the palace of Surakarta, I inherited more than 200 keris from my grandfather.
14:35 One day I purchased a very beautiful and golden keris from someone.
14:39 So I took that keris back to my house and I kept it in my room.
14:43 The next day I noticed a very nasty odor coming from my room and I didn't know why.
14:48 Was it because of that keris?
14:51 I removed the keris from my room and placed it in my brother's room.
14:56 The odor disappeared but it moved to the new room.
14:59 Then I realized the keris had not been cleansed yet through the jama-san process.
15:04 So after I conducted the jama-san, I noticed that the keris might have been used to do bad things
15:11 because blood had been spilt into this keris.
15:14 It cannot be cleansed.
15:16 So at that time in 2004, I conducted the palarongan ritual on the keris,
15:23 which is to dispose it into a feast.
15:26 That was the only way.
15:28 After listening to Mas Bagu's true account of accidentally picking a keris that has been stained with blood,
15:33 in the next segment we will witness how a keris is cleansed of any negative energies and entities that might be living in there.
15:39 The downfall of a keris can be easily brought about by wrongful worship, even if it started with honour.
15:45 The Keris
15:50 The Keris
15:55 And in 2010, the keris mysteriously came to me.
16:00 Why and how? I don't know because it is God's will.
16:04 The next day I noticed a very nasty odor coming from my room and I didn't know why.
16:10 To me, keris is a symbol of power like it is seen to symbolise the sovereignty of the king.
16:19 Therefore, the keris is not mystical unless it is praised and worshipped with incense,
16:24 and as a result it becomes mystical.
16:26 If they are not, I collect hundreds of keris.
16:29 Nothing strange has happened.
16:31 As a collector, although I don't practice mysticism,
16:35 the previous owners of the keris might have been worshipping it.
16:39 So whenever I buy an old keris, I never bring it into the house on the first day.
16:44 I leave it outside and I observe if there are any changes in the family.
16:49 For example, is there disharmony or sudden arguments?
16:53 If there is, I will cleanse the keris first and make sure that the connection is broken with the previous owner.
17:00 But if a keris is not meant to be mine, I will sell it back to the former owner or give it away.
17:07 I reject any form of mystical elements in a keris.
17:12 The journey of a keris is indeed complex as there are collectors who reject its spiritual nature
17:18 and I wonder if the keris had been brought to life through all these stories, prayers, wishes, incantations and rituals performed by us humans.
17:25 Nevertheless, a spiritual keeper of the keris is required to perform periodic ceremonial cleansing
17:31 to ensure that they are both physically and spiritually healthy as explained by Mas Bagus.
17:36 Can you explain to me what is this cleaning process? What is it called and what does it mean?
17:44 It's called jamasan.
17:45 So this process is called jamasan. The word jamas means to clean or to purify.
17:52 There are three steps in the jamasan.
17:54 The first one is the whitening process or cleaning process just like the one that we see here.
18:01 And the second process is to sun dry the keris. And then the last process is known as the warangan.
18:09 Through warangan, we soak the keris in an arsenic solution.
18:14 So warang is a natural stone of arsenic and then we combine this with lime water
18:20 and then we apply the concoction to the keris to give it a new application.
18:25 On the average, how long do you normally put it in the sun?
18:29 If the sunlight is good, 15 minutes will be enough.
18:35 We dry it properly so that the arsenic can really be absorbed by the metal.
18:40 Why do you use arsenic? I mean, isn't it poisonous?
18:43 The colour of the blade will come out different.
18:47 The materials that absorb the arsenic will become black
18:50 while the titanium, nickel and other meteorites will be turning white.
18:54 Every Friday night, only selected royalties like me, my sister and father
19:03 are allowed to attend to the heirlooms like the keris.
19:06 We prepare offerings and cleanse the holy objects ourselves.
19:10 But on ordinary days, there is an appointed custodian
19:13 who will look after and clean the place that keeps the royal heirlooms.
19:17 Can this process that you just explained to me, jamasan,
19:21 can it purify if a keris has become evil?
19:25 The first one, if the keris had already been used to kill someone,
19:30 if you can smell blood from it, then the only choice is to dispose it into the sea.
19:36 But there is another option, which is to melt the keris using fire to produce a new one.
19:41 Is it to be done by the owner or the empu?
19:44 An empu, but he is also a human being.
19:49 We can only try, but if the evil power is still so strong in the keris,
19:54 then the only option is to dispose it into the sea.
19:58 Most people think that if I own this type of keris, then I can be powerful.
20:07 If I own that type of keris, I can be a person with honor.
20:11 That's a very mistaken belief actually.
20:13 So we need to acknowledge the function of the keris is not like any other weapon.
20:17 It is not produced to kill.
20:20 This weapon is as a reminder about our spirituality, about how we are unified with nature.
20:27 Secondly, we also use a combination of special materials to produce a keris.
20:32 We follow the Popo-ankoso concept of the father sky and the Ibu-pertivi or mother earth
20:39 by using meteorites from the sky and nickels, metals from the earth, reminding us of our true nature.
20:46 The journey of a keris starts with the intention of a person wanting to own a keris
20:50 to give himself spiritual guidance, confidence, clarity or even good fortune.
20:55 And he seeks the noble service of a qualified empu to make a powerful keris.
20:59 Once created, the energies in the keris cannot be destroyed.
21:02 It can only be sedated.
21:04 What becomes of the fate of this keris is totally unpredictable.
21:07 Will it be an heirloom or will it end up in the hands of a greedy owner?
21:11 Whatever it is, we must remember that the source of true power is always within ourselves
21:15 and not an object, even one as potent as a keris.
21:20 [Music]
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