Keris Singa
Mythological lions in Indonesia are usually found in the form of statues in religious buildings such as temples, shrines, hermitages, etc. Lion motifs are also found in batik motifs, carving, puppetry, sungging, forging, dance, literature, etc. One that stands out is the lion motif found in the forging of keris. In keris culture, the lion motif is presented as a decoration for the keris's blade, pendhok, or hilt. In addition, the lion is sometimes presented as a typological name for the keris (dhapur) without any lion motif as a decoration.
Lions in keris culture are full of meaning and value. In addition to the aspect of beauty, it is also full of symbolic value and is believed to have magical powers that come from divine powers. The keris singa (lion keris) is present as a marker of the social strata of society, a symbol of guardianship and loyalty, and is believed to be a protective magic (repelling evil). This book reviews the existence of lion motifs in keris culture in Indonesia, with a general historical background, visual studies, functions, technology, and belief in its magical values.