Indonesian Riddle - Who knows what this is?

[asomotif]

Hello Erik,

Would like a complete picture of the parang if possible....

It is a picture that I "boroughed" somewhere on the web.
Found via Google.
It is a parang nabur, but no use to put the full picture here.

As for the square, may I quote Michael Marlow / VVV from this thread :
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...t=parang+nabur

:

The square is quite common on Malay weapons from south Borneo.
Yours is related to the Islamic magic square, wafq, where the numeric value of the arabic letters in all directions are the same.
This value represents a "hidden" name. Like the most common one is the Buduh (3 x 3) also known as Adam's seal.
The 4 x 4 is Plato's seal etc...
There is a lot of symbolism within the squares and by itself it also has baraka, "the Force".

[erikscollectables]

Here some more photo's.
Top with inscriptions top of the point with very nice workmanship.
Handle and blade going into the handle.

Based on the info sofar I think the handle is original to the blade (mainly based on the other example shown and the info from Arjan (Mandaukudi))

Blade looks like it has seen some use but not intensely.

The blade has several islamic texts and extensive wafak/wafq that is talismanic in meaning. The reason for the hindu decorations in combination with the islamic parts is still unclear to me. (Wafq was unkown to me so Asomotif thanks for the hint to the earlier discussion here with VVV)

Thanks for all the reactions so far, Erik

[Dom]

Hi Gentlemen
some answers before attemp of translation (on way)
1) the mentions are in arabic, and shows an unity of engraver
2) no date, no name only religious proclamations
2) the "magic squares" aren't strange, even sometimes associated with symbols, it's covers e.i.
- a shirt to protect the warrior during a battle, (pic joined)
- magical bowls called also healthy, or medical bowls (pics upon request)
- back-pages of the Holy Quran (old hand-writting) (pics upon request), etc..
those 2 last are from my personal collections

à +

Dom

[erikscollectables]

Hi Dom,

Thanks so far for the input and I look forward to your translation!

Regards, Erik

Originally Posted by Dom

Hi Gentlemen
some answers before attemp of translation (on way)
1) the mentions are in arabic, and shows an unity of engraver
2) no date, no name only religious proclamations
2) the "magic squares" aren't strange, even sometimes associated with symbols, it's covers e.i.
- a shirt to protect the warrior during a battle, (pic joined)
- magical bowls called also healthy, or medical bowls (pics upon request)
- back-pages of the Holy Quran (old hand-writting) (pics upon request), etc..
those 2 last are from my personal collections

à +

Dom

[Dom]

Hi Erik
sorry, I have been long to delivre ....

has many pic's to don't mix every thing, one email per pic and translation

the easiest one ...

either "illegible" or magic squares, and designs

à +

Dom

[Dom]

the longest ...

1st sentence by the top
-BISMILEH ARRAHMAN ARRAHIM, YA ALLAH LA ILLAH AL ALLAH AL AZIM Y ALLAH either in English IN THE NAME OF GOD, MOST GRACIOUS, MOST MERCIFUL
2nd sentence (at right)
-ALLAH ALLAH ALLAH either in English GOD GOD GOD
3rd sentence
-ALLAH AL HARADAL SAMAD YA ALLAH either in English GOD THE ONE, THE ETERNALLY BESOUGHT OF ALL 2 first verses of surat (112) Al Ikhlas
4th sentence
-LELLAH ASSAMAWAT WA AL HARD either in English FOR GOD THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH
5th sentence
-YA ZA ALGALAL WA AL EKHAME either in English HE HAS MAJESTY, AND HE IS THE MOST GENEROUS

à +

Dom

[Dom]

a brief

1st lign
- BIMELLAH either in English IN THE NAME OF GOD
2nd lign
- YA ALLAH AL MAHMOUD FI KOL AF'ALEH either in English IN ALL HE IS DOING HE IS
LAUDABLE

à +
Dom