mythical ,part animal ,part fish, Makara is a distinctive and ancient symbol of the Karava race and the Makara flag is one of the popular flags used todate by Karawas across Sri Lanka at their family ceremonies. The Makara, is a composite dragon with a curious mythical structure. It symbolizes the house of Capricorn in the Zodiac to which it has given its name Makara in the Hindu calendar. It has the head of a crocodile, horns of a goat, the body of an antelope and a snake, the tail of a fish and feet of a panther. Makara is half animal half fish and it is sometimes described as having the head of an elephant and the body of a fish. The makara has a lion's forepaws,horse's mane ,tendrils of fish and horns of deer or dragon.The crocodile won't release the prey until it is dead.Makara is widely represented in many weapons. As a symbol of water, the head of makara adorns corner projections of the temple and rain water outlets. Makara festoons are found behind the enlightenment throne of Buddha image. While talking about crocodile we can't but think of crocodile tears. But can a crocodile really weep? The experts say yes: they have tear glands just like most other animals. And zoologists have recorded alligators, close relatives of crocodiles, shedding tears while they’re eating. This parallel may be significant—rather than being an emotional response, the shedding of tears probably happens because of the way crocodiles and alligators eat: when eating their prey they will often huff and hiss as they blow out air, and their tear glands may empty at the same time. The idea of crocodile tears being false has been referred to in many of Shakespeare's plays. Makara Yazh or Makara Veena . Makaramukha veena is famous in Srirangam Temple. ‘Hechariga’ – Careful! - the warning goes out loudly, clearly and musically. It is a call of concern to Lord Ranganatha of Srirangam, as He mounts the Yali steps, during the Ira Pathu festival. The ones warning Him are the hereditary vainikas of the temple. ‘Hechariga Sadanamu Ekanta Ranga,’ in Yadukulakhambodi is a composition of Vijayaranga Chokkanatha Nayak Even as the vainikas play, the processional deity goes up the eight steps, two at a time. The song has four charanams, one for every two steps. To say that what the vainikas do is extremely difficult is an understatement. All five of them have to hold their veenas upright, sing and play in synch, and climb the steps backwards, even as the crowd, anxious to have a look at Ranganatha, leaves them very little space for manoeuvrability. I am also reminded of one of the necklaces donated Varadaraja swamy of Kanchi by Clive, the British Governor of the Madras Presidency. It is said that Clive came on the day of the Garuda-seva festival of Lord Varadaraja and that he presented his wife’s necklace to the priest to adorn the Lord. The necklace is known as Clive Makara*-kandi and is used to decorate Lord Varadaraja on the Garudotsavam day. The movement of the Sun from one zodiac sign into another is called Sankranti and as the Sun moves into the Capricorn zodiac known as Makara in Sanskrit, this occasion is named as Makara Sankranti in the Indian context. Makara denotes sea dragon or water monster. Capricorn or Makara is the tenth sign of the Zodiac. It is indicated by a Sea Goat. The symbol of Capricorn is indicated by goat with a twisted horn. The Sun stays in Capricorn from 14th January to 12th February as per sidereal zodiac which is followed by Vedic Astrologers and from 22nd December to 20th January as per Tropical Zodiac followed by Western Astrologers. Capricorn is ruled by the planet Saturn. Its characteristics are yearning for peaks and ultimate realization, ambition and eagerness for renouncement to achieve something. It symbolizes ultimate realization, merging of personal with absolute, complete renouncement of personal pleasures, materialism and pragmatism. Some important Indian personalities born in Capricorn are Salman Khan,A. R. Rahman,Rajesh khanna,MGR, KJ. Jesudas and a few others. The song that captures everybody- composed by Ooththukkadu Venkatakavi" kuzhaloothi manamellaam' contains the lines " makara Kundalam aadavum, atharkerpa makutam oli veesavum' As Krishna plays on his flute the makara kundalams on his ears also dance and the gems in his crown shine spot lighting the kundalas. Jayasala42
