The Form of the Keris
Keris is a kind of dagger which is used in a close range combat. In Bali Keris also called Kadutan, and until now the keris are still widely used in the community of Bali specially related to the religious activities such as at the Temple ceremony or the Wedding ceremony. In Bali also there are some Keris Empu or the Keris forger master, they still forge the Keris with the traditional ways with ritually Keris has two kinds of shape: straight keris ( Keris Leres ) and meandering keris ( keril Luk ). The styles of the keris called “Daphur“. There are approximately 200 kinds / daphur of straight Keris and 250 kinds / daphur of meandering Keris. The meander is called "luk". Meandering Keris always has odd numbers of meander, from luk 3 up to luk 29. Actually the luk of the keris are until 13 luk based on the “pakem” or the conditions of the keris, up to 13 luk are called : Kalawijan keris.
The magical power of the keris or the function of the keris can be directly seen from its daphur and pamor, this way of course needs experiences to recognize it.
THE PROCESS OF MAKING A KERIS AND THE WAY OF GIVING MAGICAL TO A KERIS UNDER THE RULE OF BALINESE ( HINDUISM ) WAY.
The Empu or the Forger master will prepare him self before starting in making the Keris by looking the good or not good day/time based on the Balinese Lunar Calendar. Besides that the Empu will doing his meditation and fasting to get the inspiration. If the right time are found, the Empu will prepare the materials such as : Iron, Steel and Pamor material which can be made from Meteorite or nickel also preparing the offering to the God in order to get the Blessing. First the Empu will forge the iron till the iron are clean, this way is called “membesot wesi” then turn to prepare the steel and pamor. After all done then the iron and pamor material will forge together to get the layers to form the pamor. The sum of layer according the needed, for the good keris the layer will be more than 4000 layers by folding and folding on the forging process. The layers from iron and pamor material will be cutted into two pieces then continuing to insert a piece steel between. Those three pieces will forge again to get the “kodokan” or half finished of the keris. The kodokan will process to form the keris wether to make straight or meander keris till finished. Before the keris can be used as a heirloom, the ceremony called Pasupati ceremony will held to purify the keris, this ceremony will be lead by a high priest called Pedanda or Rsi, then the keris is ready as a heirloom.
