Makara kanthi mala - the long haram, which was worn by the South Indian royalty and deities, is designed like a U shaped thoranam, flanking a central piece of the rosette.
Makara, a composite mythological animal was used as decorative embellishment and a symbol in most Indian works of art and in iconography. Makra takes various forms and is the vahana of Varuna, the goddesses Lakshmi, Ganga and Saraswathi; and, is the banner on Kamadeva’s flag.
Lord Vishnu's iconography shows how he wears his earrings in the shape of a Makara - Kundala
One of the auspicious festivals in India is the Makara – Sankrathi , which marks the end of winter, and celebrates the transit of the Sun God into Makara Rashi to welcome the harvest season.
Here is a sample to show how the makara thoranas emebllish our temple architecture:
Rich in symbolism, Ananda K Coomaraswamy writes “Makara is a great Leviathan (serpent) moving through the primaeval waters, the cosmic ocean of the night sky, which contain the essence of life.”
No wonder it came in to our jewellery design too!
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