KERIS AND SIVAISM

Early Indonesian kingdoms (6th–13th centuries A.C.) were heavily influenced by Buddhist and Hindu culture. Temples in central Java are an excellent source of representation of these cultures. What is most striking is that very little testimony is made of the Keris. Most daggers seem to be part of the old Indian leaf shaped blades. For instance the early 9th century Borobodur Buddhist temple does not show, on its 1460 bas-reliefs, any dagger similar to a Keris.

In the Prambanan complex (early 10th century), a few bas-relief have leaf-shaped bladed daggers, which have some commonality with the Keris Budha: a short heavy and broad blade, a separate piece at its base like the ganja and a central ridge. One dagger has a slight asymmetry at its base. These daggers may considered as proto Keris.

It should be noted that representations of the proto Keris seem to be related to the cult of Siva. In East Java, some Siva and Durga, 13th century statues, are represented with a proto Keris. Although the Prambanan dagger straight hilt is designed for stabbing, the Durga statue dagger has a slightly angled hilt, which could indicate a thrust use, like the modern Keris.

Durga Statue  East Java, Pasuruan district, Candi Jawi, c 1300 Mpu Tantular Museum, Surabaya

Durga, the wife of Siva holds a dagger in one of its hand. The dagger is shinning like a pamor blade.

The shape is very similar to the daggers that can be seen on Candi Siva at the Prambanan complex.

Siva Bhairava   East Java, Malang district, Singosari complex, c 1300 Rijksmuseum voor Volkenkunde, Leiden This Singgaraja statue shows Siva holding in one hand a dagger with a jambiya shape, similar to one of the 10th century unearthed daggers, and in the other hand a Khatvanga.