The Makara: A Game-Design Model

The Makara: A Game-Design Model

Art History, Anthropology, Art & Design, History

This creature is known as the Makara and appears in literature and architecture in cultures from South Asia to South America. It appears with a crocodilian body, an elephantine face, and with a fish-like tail. It is revered as a guardian of the water ways and as a vehicle of the gods. This creature was often carved into temples and homes to serve as a protector and appeared in literature as a form of symbolism.

Alt text/ID: This image shows an origami interpretation of a creature called the Makara. The design features a crocodile like creature with a curving elephant trunk and long tusks protruding from the front head of a crocodile. The body of the crocodile features sharp ridges along its back and four large legs each adorned with four sharp claws. The rail features a long and patterned shape of a fish ending in a fan-like shape with the tail being covered in a set of scales. Though not part of original depictions, this model of the Makara includes armor made from aluminum foil. This armor is placed on the creature's head and along its neck covering it in a fan like plating while being added as metal bracelets on the front two legs of the model as well.

Physical Dimensions: 11 inches long, 4 inches wide (at its widest point) and 2 inches tall

Ramanujam Sudharsanan

Personal Collection

4/12/2026

Ramanujam Sudharsanan

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scholarship, and research purposes only.

JPG

English

Physical Object