macara
macara Lexical Profile
• noun
A legendary sea creature in Hindu and Buddhist mythology, typically depicted with the foreparts of a terrestrial animal (such as an elephant, stag, or crocodile) and the hind parts of an aquatic animal, serving as the vehicle of the deities Ganga and Varuna.
"The ancient temple was adorned with intricate stone carvings of a macara guarding the sacred entrance."
A city in the Loja Province of southern Ecuador, located on the border with Peru and situated along the Macará River.
Word Nuance & Usage
When referring to the Hindu mythological creature, it is an alternate spelling of 'makara'. When referring to the geographical location in South America, it is capitalized as 'Macará'.
• Rhymes for macara
Word Origin & Etymology
The mythological sense derives from Sanskrit 'makara', meaning sea monster or crocodile. The geographical name originates from the indigenous populations and local topography of southern Ecuador.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.