Some Western scholars and writers classify the keris as a weapon, keris is made not for killing. Keris is rather a weapon in a simbolic, a weapon in the spiritual mean. For ‘sipat kandel’ (to increase the confidence of its owner), it is said in Javanese. That is why some believe keris has mystical power.
For the believer, certain keris can add the owner's bravery and confidence. Keris can also avoid a locust plague or other farming disaster. Keris can also get rid or cancel the harassment of ghost.
There is kerises that really used to kill people, such as the keris used in the old days by the king's executioner. There is also keris made for lower ranked soldiers. But the usage of keris as killing tool is ceremonial and only on special occasion, such as Kanjeng Kyai Balabar owned by Pangeran Puger. In the 18th century keris with the dapur Pasopati is used by Sunan Amangkurat Amral (the king) to execute Trunojoyo at the town hall of Kartasura.
Keris is an art form which include the art of tempa, sculpture, symbolic art and other forms of art. The making of keris always with certain prayers and mantras, and ceremony and special sesaji. The first prayer by the empu when he will hammer the keris is to beg the Almighty so that the keris will not harm the owner and other people. The prayers are followed by tapa brata and lelaku (mainly fasting and meditating, or no sleeping, no eating, no sex on certain times).
The material to make the keris is iron, steel and pamor material. Pamor material has four kinds. First is meteorite which has titanium in it. Second is nickel. Other pamor is other metal alloy with iron as main ingredient. Usually this third pamor is called pamor Luwu. While the forth pamor is iron alloy fro other region, which if mixed with the iron from certain area will make different color and view.
Iron and pamor are hammered repeatedly then made into many layers. Nowadays, the general need is at least 64 layers. For a keris with simple quality, it needs at least 128 layers. While the good quality keris needs at least 2000 layers. Then to get sharpness, steel is included in the middle. All thin material will be stronger if it is made layered. This theory is known to the ancient Javanese many centuries ago. They found this theory somehow, and used it about 7 or 8 centuries before the technology makin wood triplex or plywood made by Western technology in early 16th century.
The selection of meteorite stones that contains titanium is another intriguing ancient Javanese knowledge. Since titanium now known to has many good features compared to other metal. Titanium is hard, strong, light, heat resistang and rustproof. In the modern world, titanium is used to make the nose of the spaceship, rockets and ICBMs.
In the old days, the authority of a king is only recognized by the people when the king wore one of the monarch special keris in the inauguration. In Java, esp. in Central and part of East Java, when the groom somehow cannot physically attend his wedding ceremony, he can delegate his presence by presenting his keris. So the keris will be taking his place beside the groom. This custom is also present in Bali. In West Sumatra, a boy who will leave his hometown usually given a keris by his parents, as a family tie and blessing of the parents.
village cleansing ceremony still used a small blade of keris which is known as keris sajen. Village cleansing is a traditional ritual ceremony that prays to the God so that the villagers, the farms, are avoided from disease and pest, and also from natural disaster. The ceremony is meant to renew the deal or agreement with spiritual beings which inhabit the village (Sing Mbahureksa - Javanese) so it doesn't interfere with the villagers.
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