Keris is a spiritual culture of heritage

The most famous pusaka or heirloom for Javanese people is Keris. In the ancient time, a man is not considered as a real man if he has no a Keris. The Keris is highly valued, treated and respected with special care.

This pusaka is usually inherited from fore fathers. According to Javanese ancient tradition, especially in the court families, a father was obliged to give to his adult son at least a Keris.

In Principle, a keris is a personal sacred weapon, it is made by an Empu -a person with spiritual power who are experts in making heirloom things eg. Keris-, in accordance with the wish of the consumer.

In general, Keris is divided to two important parts, the blade (Wilah) and the scabbard (Warangka), to protect the blade. The process of the making of the blade in the old days may last one year only for one Keris. Only the respectable Empus could make a high quality Keris, physically and spiritually. Empu has to do some spiritual deeds to prepare a Keris, like fasting, not sleeping for several days and nights, meditation, etc.

Despite its physical characteristic, keris contain a spiritual mission. The original spiritual power is the wishes of the Empu, the maker. While preparing and making a keris, the Empu, in the holy state, solemnly pray to God Almighty, the Keris should contain spiritual wishes as requested by the Empu or the consumer. It depends who is going to use the Keris, the mission should be different, for instance, for a King, Begawan (priest), generals, high ranking officials, farmers, traders, fishermen, workers, soldiers, etc. So, it could be easy to understand that a Keris which good for a King , may be not good for a farmer.

The additional and/or other spiritual power of Keris. The Keris could be filled with spiritual beings, unseen by ordinary people, such as a genie, (jin or qodam) in order to protect or to help the Keris owner.