#imythu

[imythu]

Makara

Origin: Indian

The Makara basically takes the form of an Indian chimera. It is a sea creature, but is often depicted with various body parts of beasts such as elephants, lions, monkeys, pigs, crocodiles, deer, fish, seal and even sometimes peacock portions. Of course, the inclusive animal parts depend on the artist and designs of the story teller. Makara, translated, roughly means "Sea Dragon" or "Sea Monster". In religious mentions, the Makara is not so much a beast, but it is subserviant to Ganga (who is the goddess of the river Ganges), and the creature acts as a sort of boat for the goddess to travel upon.

[imythu]

Baba Yaga Origin: Slavic Baba Yaga appears in many different cultures, though under many different personas. She is usually depicted as an old woman (or "hag"). Usually she lives in some sort of hut; in Hansel and Gretal it is depicted to be made out of candies, but in Alexander Pushkin's version it is a cabin on chicken legs. In quite a few of these tales, Baba Yaga is considered to eat babies and young children. One of the most popular tales with this theme is the tale of Hansel and Gretal.

Artist: Baba Yaga by Ivan Bilibin

[imythu]

Kasa-obake (Origin: Japan)

I would like for you to meet a selection of Kasa-Obake. They do not spontaneously appear. Instead, once they have been umbrellas for one hundred years, they turn into Kasa Obake.

Obake can be translated as "Ghost", but obake are not always spirits of things that are dead. Obake can often be things that are alive, or things such as general objects. In this case, the Obake is in the form of an umbrella or parasol.

They are usually depicted with one eye, a mouth with a great tongue sticking out and a leg in the place of the handle.

Artist: At first I was unsure about the artist because I found the work on a blog. But I've since found the artist.

Kasa Obake - Umbrella Ghosts by Verdego@deviantart