The word Makara can refer to several different things.

• In Aboriginal mythology, the Makara are the seven sisters who eventually became the Pleiades.

• In Hinduism, Makara is a sea monster and Varuna's mount.

• In the Hindu calendar Makara refers to the Zodiacal sign of Capricorn.

• In geography, Makara is a coastal town west of Wellington, New Zealand.

• In old Greek, Makara means "blessed." Since many East European people accepted Christianity from the Greeks, many of these peoples have Makara in the root of their last names: Makarios (Greeks), the given name Makar gave rise to a number of last names Makarov (Russians), Makarenko (Ukrainians).

• In mythology, Makara is half animal half fish. For example, he is sometimes described as having the head of an elephant and the body of a fish. He is generally large and lives in the ocean rather than in lakes or streams.