MAKARA continued Detail of a relief on the left side of the arch at the Lomas Rishi Cave in Bihar (ca. 350 b.c.). The Makarais a quadrupedwith a crocodile head, snout curled back and a reptilian-spinedtail. It illustrates the first of five stagesin the developmentof the formsof the Makara. A water horse (Jala-taraga) vahana (pedestal) under Camda Yakshi depicted in relief on a pillar at the Bharhutstupa (175-150B.c.). Bas relief band from Sarnath illustrating the fourth stage of the developmentof the form of the Makara which occursduring the Gupta period from about A.D. 400-500on. The head has becomeelephantine,forelegs disappear, the snout curls forward instead of backwards and the tail becomesbushy. A torunaýítúsXfrom Mathura (a.D. 100-200)showing a figure in battle with a fish tail Makara. This is the first appearanceof a fin on the Makara and the third stage in the developmentof the form of the Makara. 40 Illustrating the secondstage in the developmentof the Makara is this detail from the reliefs on the pillars of the Bharhutstupa (early 1st centuryb.c.). The Makara serves as a vahuna (vehicle) for a SudarsanaYaksi carvedabove it. Here the Makara retains the crocodile head and the curled snout of the first stage.