MANKIND HAS ALWAYS HAD A FACINATION WITH REAL CREATURES THAT ARE DANGEROUS LIONS (THE KING OF BEASTS), TIGERS, LEOPARDS, BEARS,BULLS, SNAKES, SHARKS ECT. WHEN PEOPLE TRAVELED AND TOLD STORIES ABOUT THESE CREATURES TO PEOPLE WHO HAD NEVER SEEN ONE THE STORIES WERE OFTEN EXAGERATED WHEN TOLD. THEN MORE STORIES MADE UP UNTIL THE CREATURE BECAME MORE THAN REAL AND MONSTERS WERE CREATED. SO A LION WOULD NOT HAVE EVER BEEN IN CEYLON FOR STORIES OF IT TO HAVE ARRIVED. NO DOUBT AS THE KING OF BEASTS IT WOULD HAVE BEEN IMPRESSIVE AND HAVE MANY POWERS.
THE MONSTER WITH THE BIRDS BODY IS MOST LIKELY THE COCATRICE. THIS MYTH WAS CREATED AND SUPPOSIDLY WAS THE RESULT OF A COCK AND A SNAKE LAYING AN EGG AND HATCHING THIS MONSTER. ITS BREATH WAS DEADLY POSION AND IF IT LOOKED AT A PERSON THEY WOULD TURN TO STONE. THERE ARE EVEN INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF OR TO DESTROY ONE.
ALL THIS ABOUT SOMETHING THAT NEVER EXHISTED AND IS DIFFERENT LOOKING FROM COUNTRY TO COUNTRY.
THE MAKARAS ORIGIN WAS NO DOUBT IN HINDU AND BUDDHIST COUNTRIES AND HAS THE ATRIBUTES OF SEVERAL ANIMALS AS WELL AS MYSTICAL POWERS. THE LION LIKELY CAME AS STORIES FROM OTHER COUNTRIES WHO TRADED THERE. WHEN THE PORTUGESE OR OTHER COUNTRIES TOOK POWER PERHAPS THE LION WAS SEEN AS MORE POWERFUL AS A RESULT AND ASCENDED IN PLACE TO THE SWORDS POMMEL.
THE ANSWERS ARE LOST IN TIME BUT IT DOES MAKE FOR A GOOD DISCUSSION AND IT DOSEN'T REALLY MATTER LION OR MAKARA WE EACH CAN CALL IT WHAT WE WILL.
