Jawnomicon

Makara

Also called Makar, Magar.

In Hindu and Buddhist mythology, the Makara is a composite sea-monster with the forequarters of a crocodile and the hindquarters of a fish, serving as the vahana of the river goddess Ganga and the water-god Varuna and appearing throughout South and Southeast Asian temple iconography.

At a glance

Tradition
Indian folkloreBuddhist mythology
Trait family
The Threshold-Keepers
Symbols
Fish

Near this figure

Symbols

Judged against the description by a model. Meanings are our own paraphrase.

Traits

Read from the figure's description, which a model wrote. Open "why" for the sentence a trait came from.

Form

  • Front half back half different species hybrid
    why

    the forequarters of a crocodile fused to the tail of a fish

  • Hybrid of multiple animals
    why

    some depictions give it an elephant's trunk, a boar's snout, or the forelegs of a deer or lion in place of a simple crocodile head, and later Southeast Asian art frequently blends in scaled, serpentine, or even peacock-like elements

  • Disgorges vegetation from mouth
    why

    and as the mouths from which ornamental waterspouts or carved rivers of foliage emerge, a form sometimes called a "makara disgorging vegetation" in temple art of Indonesia and Southeast Asia.

Behaviour

  • Vahana mount of a deity
    why

    In Hindu tradition the Makara serves as vahana, or mount, of Ganga, the goddess personifying the river Ganges, and of Varuna, the Vedic god of the cosmic ocean and waters, linking the creature firmly to the mythology of rivers, rain, and the sea.

Defensive powers

  • Threshold guardianship
    why

    Architecturally, the Makara is ubiquitous as a guardian and threshold figure across South and Southeast Asian temple traditions, appearing carved into gateway arches known as makara-toranas, at the ends of balustrades and staircases, and as the mouths from which ornamental waterspouts or carved rivers of foliage emerge, a form sometimes called a "makara disgorging vegetation" in temple art of Indonesia and Southeast Asia.

Utility powers

  • Beast of burden
    why

    In Hindu tradition the Makara serves as vahana, or mount, of Ganga, the goddess personifying the river Ganges, and of Varuna, the Vedic god of the cosmic ocean and waters, linking the creature firmly to the mythology of rivers, rain, and the sea.

Roles

Judged from the works' own entries, not from the description. Carries: the figure holds the role. Meets: the role is in its stories, held by something it meets.