K a l a w i j a -- The Unordinary Dhapur

[ganjawulung]

Originally Posted by Raden Usman Djogja

Someone said to me that he looked for kerises everywhere and everytime. Till someday, he got a "special" keris. After that, it seemed that kerises looking for him. Without any hard efforts, people came to him to offer kerises. Do you have a similiar experience?

Usmen

Maybe Raden,
At least, it was formerly owned by the kerabat (family) of Hamengku Buwono (HB) VII and VIII. (Grand-grand father of the father's owner was HB VII and the Grand-grand father of the mother's owner was HB VIII).

From the style of the sheath, you may see that it comes from "wanda" (special style) of Hamengku Buwanan, not Amangkuratan (older ruler of Mataram). The wood grain also one of the best wood-motive, highest rated motive in Yogyakarta Tradition (in Solo, the more favorite is cendana wood or the sandal wood). It called "ngingrim" motive, from the favorite wood of "timoho" (Kleinhovia hospita). The ukiran (handle) also from the favorite wood, called "tayuman" (kind of bush wood, Cassia laevigata Wild).

People in Yogyakarta, they generally appreciated the special motives of timoho wood. Even they named the timoho motives, as motives in pamor. "Ngingrim" is the best motive of timoho, besiden "sembur" (many round motives like tiger's fur). They called the motives in timoho wood as "pelet". So, pelet really is the name of pamor in timoho wood.

I have special experience of owning such good keris. Actually there was someone (a rich collector) who had wanted to "nglamar" (buy) that keris three times higher, but the owner preferred to me. He said, "If I give this keris to him (the collector), I won't see it anymore. But if it is yours, I still can see it in the future...," So I got the keris with a very unreasonable low price...

[ganjawulung]

The exact meaning of "kalawija" itself is "unordinary". I've written in other thread, that "unordinary" conditions are not only in keris world, but also human. People, with such "kelainan" (I don't know the English word) or "cacat" (disabled) also called "kalawijan".

In keraton Solo, they have "abdi dalem kalawijan" or "palawijan", that consist of disabled people (dwarf, etc). They believed that if they give living to such people, it will bring luck, good fortune... (Like many Javanese people, they are living with good hope in the future, even they are poor or unfortunate).

Kalawija in style of making keris, and also of making hilts, means "unordinary style" or models. "Kalawijan people" in daily Javanese live, also include: "outstanding artist, traditional dancer, gamelan composer... etc). So such keris kalawija like this, believed to be suitable for them too..

Ganjawulung

[Raden Usman Djogja]

Gonjo and kerislovers,

may i ask some thing?
did you face "a situation" that after having "a certain keris" your collection increased exponentially?

to kerislovers, i ask the same question. please answer.

thank you

Usman

[Marcokeris]

All Jimmy's peace are beautifully made.
A question: in a picture in another thread I saw a completre sarong made by Tayuman . When i ask for tayuman in Yogya, people told me that the tree of tayuman is very little and so is possible to make hit but not sarong. Could i have some right news about tayuman?

[ganjawulung]

Originally Posted by Marcokeris

...in a picture in another thread I saw a completre sarong made by Tayuman: confused: When I ask for tayuman in Yogya, people told me that the tree of tayuman is very little and so is possible to make hit but not sarong. Could i have some right news about tayuman?

Tayuman, or Cassia laevigata wild, is a kind of bush tree. Of course, rarely tayuman tree has a big trunk possible to make keris sheath. In the other thread, I just comment that Raden Usman keris' sheath is "probably" made of tayuman wood. That's probably.

So, tayuman is mostly used as hilts. Old tayuman hilts, are expensive in Yogyakarta and Surakarta. Also expensive, "kemuning werut" (red and striped kemuning). One Yogyakartanese tayuman hilt could cost until Rp 300-500.000 or around 50 euro per piece. Compare to normal hilt, of around 75.000 rupiahs.

Usually, old tayuman hilts are "submerged" if you put them on water. That's the way the Javanese choose, whether the hilts are tayuman or not. Would you try, in Yogyakarta next July Marco?

Ganjawulung

[cahaya]

Hii Marco,

Tayuman is the best (and first choice) use for hilt keris at Jogjakarta dan Surakarta , "kemuning werut" after Tayuman.

Hilt with Tayuman wood ussually/commonly use for Keris Tayuhan or "Keris Pusoko"

soory guys, my english is very bad

[Marcokeris]

Originally Posted by cahaya

Hii Marco,

Tayuman is the best (and first choice) use for hilt keris at Jogjakarta dan Surakarta , "kemuning werut" after Tayuman.

Hilt with Tayuman wood ussually/commonly use for Keris Tayuhan or "Keris Pusoko"

soory guys, my english is very bad

Thanks Cahaya
don't worry for your English also my is not good :important thing is to understand.

[David]

Originally Posted by Raden Usman Djogja

Gonjo and kerislovers,

may i ask some thing?
did you face "a situation" that after having "a certain keris" your collection increased exponentially?

to kerislovers, i ask the same question. please answer.

thank you

Usman

Usman, for many years i owned just one old Jawa keris and one Moro kris sword. I was alway searching for new information about them. Then one day, about 2 and a half years ago i discovered vikingsword.com and my entire keris world opened up for me.
Now i own more than 3 dozen keris and 3 more Moro kris so for me it would seem that it wasn't a keris, but a "Vikingsword" which has increased my collection exponentially.

[Pangeran Datu]

Originally Posted by Raden Usman Djogja

Gonjo and kerislovers,

may i ask some thing?
did you face "a situation" that after having "a certain keris" your collection increased exponentially?

to kerislovers, i ask the same question. please answer.

thank you

Usman

Amww

Hi Rd. U. Djogja,

The short answer to your question is: 'YES'.

Probably because as part of the family heirloom we have one with the inscription: 'LAA IQRAHA FIDDIEN' (in Arabic script) and another with the inscription:' na twah ram pes dina urang agamaning pare' (in Caraka script).

Strange coincidence, but just before I came online, I got a phone call from a friend who told me that there's a man in Bali who thinks that I may be interested in having his family heirloom as he can't look after it.

As for the word 'kalawija':
It comes from the word kala=time and wija=seed i.e. time for planting seed.
There is another word:'PALAwija', from phala=fruit. In some regions, one or the other is used, while in others, they are used interchangeably.
Palawija is the term used for plants grown on the earth embankments/partitions of paddy fields/fishponds.
At rice-seedling planting time, whatever other 'fruit'-bearing seeds available are planted both to secure the earthenworks and to maximise yield.
Both words are derived from an agrarian society predisposed to symbolism, usually in its simplest form i.e. relating to their everyday life/universe.

So, Kalawija/Palawija refers to something which is not the staple/norm.

Well, that's my input, for what it's worth.
Hope it helps.

Cheers,
Amww

[David]

Originally Posted by Pangeran Datu

Probably because as part of the family heirloom we have one with the inscription: 'LAA IQRAHA FIDDIEN' (in Arabic script) and another with the inscription:' na twah ram pes dina urang agamaning pare' (in Caraka script).

Sorry Pangeran, but that is completely meaningless to ignorant Americans such as myself who don't speak these languages.
Care to translate.

[Alam Shah]

Originally Posted by David

... but that is completely meaningless to ignorant Americans such as myself who don't speak these languages.
Care to translate.

'LAA IQRAHA FIDDIEN' means 'religion is not something to be forced'. The other one have the same meaning in Caraka script, (Old Javanese), me think.

Pangeran Datu, does the caraka script looks like this?

[Pangeran Datu]

Originally Posted by Alam Shah

'LAA IQRAHA FIDDIEN' means 'religion is not something to be forced'. The other one have the same meaning in Caraka script, (Old Javanese), me think.

Pangeran Datu, does the caraka script looks like this?

Hi Alam Shah and David,

You are correct, of course, about the Arabic script. The implication being that, one must feel 'freed' by religion rather than be enslaved/oppressed by it.
Good guess on the second one! It actually means: Thus it is, that human behaviour/character should follow the wisdom of the rice plant.
Finally, look at the attached sample of Caraka and judge for yourself.

Cheers.

[ganjawulung]

Originally Posted by Pangeran Datu

As for the word 'kalawija':
It comes from the word kala=time and wija=seed i.e. time for planting seed.
There is another word:'PALAwija', from phala=fruit. In some regions, one or the other is used, while in others, they are used interchangeably.
Palawija is the term used for plants grown on the earth embankments/partitions of paddy fields/fishponds.
At rice-seedling planting time, whatever other 'fruit'-bearing seeds available are planted both to secure the earthenworks and to maximise yield.
Both words are derived from an agrarian society predisposed to symbolism, usually in its simplest form i.e. relating to their everyday life/universe.

Agrarian and everyday life, universe. I agree Pangeran. If you look at all the ricikan (details) in kerises, all come from those terms. You look at the ganja, for instance. The name of the shape of ganja, come from animal's name: "sirah cecak" (cecak's or small reptil's head), "buntut urang" (shrimp's tail). The form of mostly Majapahit ganja is "sebit ron tal" litterally, it means that the ganja is "curving like the tal's leaf".

Greneng? Actually there are two Caraka characters of "dha" at the greneng. Sekar kacang, or kembang kacang, or some people say tlale gajah (elephant's snail?). The luks or curves' classification, also based on "animal's move". Luk with style "sarpa lumaku" (walking snake), or "sarpa nglangi" (swimming snake) et cetera...

Every details on keris blade, or keris sheath and ornaments, have their specific meanings. Even the style, has its specific meaning too. Style of hilt "taman ngabean" is strong looking: it's good for strong and tall person. Hilt of "taman banaran" which is loose-looking, is good for small or less-tall person, soft person... And so on.

Ganjawulung

[Raden Usman Djogja]

Originally Posted by Pangeran Datu

Amww

Hi Rd. U. Djogja,

The short answer to your question is: 'YES'.

Probably because as part of the family heirloom we have one with the inscription: 'LAA IQRAHA FIDDIEN' (in Arabic script) and another with the inscription:' na twah ram pes dina urang agamaning pare' (in Caraka script).
Amww

Pangeran datu,

I also have a tombak where there is an inscription in its methuk. Perhaps, I will upload it. Is it better if I upload it by opening new thread "Inscription in wesi aji"? So, we can focus this thread on Kalawija.

Usman

[Pangeran Datu]

Originally Posted by Raden Usman Djogja

Pangeran datu,

I also have a tombak where there is an inscription in its methuk. Perhaps, I will upload it. Is it better if I upload it by opening new thread "Inscription in wesi aji"? So, we can focus this thread on Kalawija.

Usman

Amww

Hello Rd. U. Djogja,

I have no problem with that. However, I would wait a bit first, to see what level of response is generated before opening a new thread. Besides, there is already a thread about keris+spirit.
IMVHO, paranormal aspects of an object should be classified in the same category. In my experience, most inscriptions on genuine articles (not tourist white elephants) are designed to evoke/invoke/maintain some paranormal energy/activity.
Anyway, if the situation becomes such that it requires a separate thread, I'm sure our kind and generous Moderators will gladly oblige by transferring everything to a new one.
For the time being, perhaps we can prevail upon Ganjawulung's kindness and get him to edit the title of his original post, changing it to: The Kalawija/Palawija.

Cheers.
Amww

[Rick]

No; if you guys want to start a new thread please do so.
I'm not of the mind, nor do I have the time to transfer old posts to a new thread.
Pls. remember that this is volunteer work; not a job.