Makara Sea Monster
The Sanskrit word makara can refer to the crocodile. The
word makara also means monster in the sense of neither one thing nor another. Makara
is a sea-creature in Hindu culture. It’s generally depicted as half animal at the front (usually an elephant)and
half aquatic animal in the rear. Makara are considered guardians of gateways and
are the most commonly recurring creature
in Hindu and Buddhist temple iconography.
Some believe
the legend of the Makara may be based in fact, and that the Trunko monster and
Makara are the same thing. Some ancient
renditions of Makara do tend to resemble
the prehistoric mammal Ambulocetus, or walking whale.
Trunko
On November 1st 1922, at Margate Beach in South
Africa, an amazing spectacle took place. Witnesses say that two whales were
engaged in battle with a sea monster. The monster had very unique feature
including snowy-white fur and a very large elephant-like trunk. The battle
lasted 3 hours before the monster weakened and the whales were victorious. It's
dead body later washed onto the shore. Measurements taken show that it was over
47 feet, including a 10 foot tail. It had 8-inch long fur, but no apparent
head. It only had a trunk-like projection 5 feet in length. That is why the
creature has been given the name "Trunko." The body was said to have
been buried but no one knows where.
So could Trunko
be the embodiment of the Makara or is the Makara in reality a crocodile or just
a myth?
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