Ap/Varuna/Jal (Water): fluidity

Makara; water creature, sea monster, crocodile, part elephant and part serpent. There is no exact definition of the Makara because in every part of the continent, with different texts and in multiple temples, it keeps changing. Grünwedel, Albert, and Jac Burgess. Buddhist Art in India. 2nd ed / rev. and enl. by Jas. Burgess. Santiago de Compostela [etc.]: Gupta, 1965. The Makara Pendant’s design, though heavenly in terms of powerful mystical properties, is forged in fire to create a static shape.

The Makara is considered a water deity, though its monstrous descriptions often clash with one another because there is no single way of describing it.

It is a vahana, a vehicle, for Hindu gods which protects them throughout their stories. Makaras have been a vahana for Veruna (sea god) and Ganga (holiest river in Hindu). Various gods in the Hindu pantheon can be seen wearing Makaras as earrings, like the sun god Surya and the mother goddess Chandi. Grünwedel, Albert, and Jac Burgess. Buddhist Art in India. 2nd ed / rev. and enl. by Jas. Burgess. Santiago de Compostela [etc.]: Gupta, 1965.

They are not only shapeshifters themselves but also within their positions in the mythology – guardians, vahanas, carers, protectors, companions, and symbols of power. They are silent in the myths but are very alert when protecting their gods. Makaras are also guardians of temples and throne rooms, helping bring peace to religious practitioners and the various kings, Maharajas, of the region. They are the ultimate helpers of the divine.

The fluidity of the shape of the Makara is, in fact, remarkable. It feels like it reflects how water moves and flows. The body is constantly transformed and constantly in motion. It is an icon that transcends the earthly realm. The Makara Pendant ensures that aesthetically it is static, but its shape-shifting qualities highlight the ongoing complexity of the dynamic exchange relationship between Asia and Europe.