Makara is legendary a sea-creature in Hindu culture. It is generally depicted as half terrestrial animal in the frontal part (stag, deer, crocodile, or elephant) and half aquatic animal in the hind part (usually a fish or seal tail, though sometimes a peacock or even a floral tail is depicted.)

In this sculpture, Makara – the mystical creature is having elephant trunk with tiger like teeth. It has a body of rhino with crocodile like legs and peacock’s tail.

Makara is a common iconography of Hoyasala temples.

Location – Somnathpura Temple, Karnataka, India