Makara

A sketch of the goddess Ganga on her Vahana (mount) Makara

Makara dated from the 7th century CE, National Museum Kuala Lumpur

Karava Makara flag from Sri Lanka.

According to Hindu mythology, Makara, a mythical creature, is the vahana of Ganga and Varuna. It is also the insignia of Kamadeva, a god representing love and lust, and Kama’s flag (dhwaja) is known as Karkadhvaja, that is, a flag having makara depicted on the flag. Traditionally, a makara is considered to be an aquatic creature, and some traditional accounts identify it with crocodile, whereas some other accounts identify it with Gangetic Dolphin having striking resemblances with later now found mainly in Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin Sanctuary. Still others portray it as a fish body with an elephant's head. The tradition identifies the makara with water, the source of all existence and fertility. In astrology, it is the sign of Capricorn, one of the twelve symbols of the Zodiac.

In Indian art, the makara finds expression in the form of motifs, and have been so portrayed in different styles, including the following:

• on the entry points (torans) of several Buddhist monuments, including the stupa of Sanchi, a world heritage site
• on royal thrones

Cryptozoology

Some cryptozoologists suspect the legend of the Makara may be based in fact, and associate it with the Trunko sighting on South Africa's Indian coast. While ancient sketches of Makara do tend to resemble modern illustrated renditions of the prehistoric mammal Ambulocetus.

See also

• Chöd - A Tibetan Buddhist religious practice that incorporates the Makara into its iconography.

References

• Dictionary of Hindu Lore and Legend (ISBN 0-500-51088-1) by Anna Dallapiccola
• The Illustrated Book of Signs and Symbols by Miranda Bruce-Mitford

External links

Media related to Makara at Wikimedia Commons