The Cursed Sacred Keris of Mpu Gandring

The Keris Mpu Gandring is a famous heirloom weapon associated with the founding of the Singhasari Kingdom in what is now Malang, East Java. This keris is renowned for its curse, which claimed the lives of several elite members of Singhasari, including its founder and wielder, Ken Arok. The keris, imbued with extraordinary power due to its composition from various sources of strength, is considered immensely powerful and magical.

This keris was crafted by a highly skilled blacksmith named Mpu Gandring, at the request of Ken Arok, a notorious outlaw who, according to a Brahmin named Lohgawe, was an incarnation of Vishnu. Mpu Gandring was an exceptionally experienced blacksmith. The skills he acquired through generations of craftsmanship made him extremely proficient in his trade.

Illustration of an Mpu Gandring at work (Source: Personal Collection)

Ken Arok was a highly ambitious commoner who was said to be an incarnation of the god Vishnu. Despite his humble origins, he had aspirations to change his fate and become a ruler. Ken Arok planned to seize power in East Java and establish a kingdom. Ken Arok ordered this keris from Mpu Gandring, requesting it to be completed in just one night—a task almost impossible for "mpu" (the title for a highly skilled metalworker) of that time. However, Mpu Gandring agreed, using his supernatural powers to accomplish the feat. He even transferred some of his own magical abilities into the keris to enhance its power and potency.

Illustration Of The Mpu Gandring Keris (Source: Private Collection)

After completing the keris with a perfect shape and form, and with supernatural abilities that were said to surpass those of other heirloom kerises of the time, Mpu Gandring began making the scabbard for it. However, before the scabbard was finished, Ken Arok came to collect the keris, claiming that it was already a day overdue and needed to be retrieved. He then tested the keris and, in the end, used it to stab Mpu Gandring, whom he believed had not fulfilled his promise (since the scabbard was not yet completed).Furthermore, it is said that Ken Arok tested the keris's abilities against the supernatural powers of its maker (which had been imbued into the keris to enhance its capabilities). In his dying moments, Mpu Gandring cast a curse that the keris would claim the lives of seven descendants of Ken Arok.

Illustration of Ken Arok Establishing the Singasari Kingdom (Source: Personal Collection)

After killing Mpu Gandring, Ken Arok succeeded in seizing power and establishing the Singhasari Kingdom. He ruled the kingdom at that time, and his ambition to become a powerful leader was finally realized. However, the curse within the Keris Mpu Gandring began to show its effects.

Ken Arok faced numerous problems, conflicts, and tragedies during his reign. The keris, which initially provided power, now became a source of difficulty and disaster. In many versions of the story, the keris is seen as a symbol of the mistakes and misfortunes that befell Ken Arok and his descendants. Throughout its history, the keris was involved in disputes and murders among the elite of the Singhasari Kingdom, including:

The killing of Tunggul Ametung, the head of the Tumapel region (the precursor to Singhasari), who was at that time a subordinate of the Kediri Kingdom, ruled by Kertajaya, known as "Dandang Gendis" (the last king of that kingdom). Tumapel itself was a fragment of a once-great kingdom, the Jenggala Kingdom, which had been destroyed by Kediri. Both Jenggala and Kediri had originally been a single region ruled by Airlangga.

Illustration of a Very Beautiful Ken Dedes (Source: Personal Collection)

Ken Arok killed Tunggul Ametung to obtain his beautiful wife, Ken Dedes. At that time, Ken Arok was a trusted subordinate of Tunggul Ametung. The motive for this murder stemmed from Ken Arok's belief, based on what he heard from the Brahmin Lohgawe, that "whoever marries Ken Dedes will become the King of the World."

Before Ken Arok killed Tunggul Ametung, he lent the keris to his colleague, Kebo Ijo, who was fascinated by it and carried it everywhere to attract public attention. For Ken Arok, lending the keris was a tactic to frame Kebo Ijo as the culprit in the murder that Ken Arok had planned. The scheme worked, and nearly the entire public of Tumapel, including several officials, believed that Kebo Ijo was the suspect in Tunggul Ametung’s murder. Ken Arok, who was then a trusted associate of Tunggul Ametung, subsequently killed Kebo Ijo with the very heirloom keris.

After killing Tunggul Ametung, Ken Arok took his position, married Ken Dedes, who was then pregnant, and expanded the influence of Tumapel, eventually destroying the Kediri Kingdom. Ken Arok himself went on to establish the Singhasari Kingdom. The murder case, however, came to the attention of Anusapati, the son of Ken Dedes and Tunggul Ametung. Anusapati, who had been adopted by Ken Arok, learned all about the events from his mother, Ken Dedes, and was determined to seek revenge. Anusapati eventually planned retribution for the murder by sending his trusted powerful warrior, Ki Pengalasan.

While alone in the royal treasure room, Ken Arok examined the royal heirlooms he possessed. Among them was the keris without a scabbard made by Mpu Gandring, known as the Keris Mpu Gandring. Seeing the bloodstains on the keris, he felt a deep sense of fear, especially as he heard a ghostly voice from within the keris demanding a sacrifice. He recalled the curse from Mpu Gandring, whom he had killed, and immediately threw the keris to the ground, shattering it into pieces. He intended to destroy it.

Illustration of Ken Arok who is alone in the Royal Library (Source: Private Collection)

However, the keris miraculously floated and vanished. While Anusapati and Ki Pengalasan were planning the murder, the keris suddenly appeared in Anusapati's hands. Anusapati handed the keris to Ki Pengalasan, who was tasked with executing Ken Arok. Ki Pengalasan carried out the mission, and to cover his tracks, Anusapati then killed Ki Pengalasan with the same keris.

Anusapati took over Ken Arok's rule, but it was short-lived. Tohjaya, Ken Arok's son with Ken Umang, eventually learned of the murder case and sought revenge. Tohjaya organized a royal cockfighting event, which Anusapati was very fond of. When Anusapati was distracted, Tohjaya seized the Keris Mpu Gandring and killed him on the spot. Tohjaya executed Anusapati based on the belief that Anusapati had murdered Ken Arok. After killing Anusapati, Tohjaya proclaimed himself king, succeeding Anusapati

Illustration of Toh Jaya Becoming King (Source: Personal Collection)

Tohjaya’s reign was also short-lived. Discontent grew among both the people and the palace elite, including his own family and relatives, such as Mahisa Campaka and Dyah Lembu Tal. This dissatisfaction and palace intrigue eventually escalated into a conflict that led to Tohjaya's death. After the situation was brought under control, the throne was succeeded by Ranggawuni, who ruled for a considerable time and is said to have presided over a period of peace in the Singhasari Kingdom. Since Tohjaya’s death, the Keris Mpu Gandring disappeared, and its whereabouts remain unknown.

At the end of his life, at the edge of his own creation, Mpu Gandring cursed Ken Arok, stating that the keris would claim the lives of seven descendants of Ken Arok. Now let’s count. According to history and legend, there were indeed seven people killed by the Keris Mpu Gandring: Mpu Gandring (the creator of the keris), Kebo Ijo (Ken Arok’s associate), Tunggul Ametung (the ruler of Tumapel at that time), Ken Arok (the founder of the Singhasari Kingdom), Ki Pengalasan (Anusapati’s guard who killed Ken Arok), Anusapati (Ken Dedes’ son who ordered Ki Pengalasan to kill Ken Arok), Tohjaya (Ken Arok’s son by his concubine, Ken Umang, who was not killed by the keris but was injured by a spear and eventually died from his wounds).