Gardens Follow

The Peafowl is considered a divine creature in Indian mythology, especially as the vahana (carriage) of Kartikeya, son of Lord Shiva and army commander of all the gods. It is also said that at one time when the gods took the form of various birds, Devraj Indra chose the finest form, that of a peacock, and ever since, whenever Indra brings rain on earth, all the peacocks dance in joy and merriment--a sight to behold, meant for the gods. Lord Krishna's association with the peafowl is verily legendary: peacock feathers have always adorned his headgear, popularly known as the 'mor-mukut', and it is said that Lord Krishna danced like a peacock to court his beloved Radha and when he played his mellifluous flute, the peacocks danced in unison with the gopis (cowgirls). Even now, the temples dedicated to Krishna display peacocks prominently on the entrance gates. The famous epic Ramayan has many references to these birds and there is even a folklore that traces the birth of Sita, the consort of Lord Ram, from a peahen's egg. Likewise, one Buddhist Jataka folktale, called the 'Maha-mor', relates how Gautam Buddha was a golden peacock prior to his birth as a human being. In Buddhist mythology, the peacock is a symbol of compassion and watchfulness. Buddhist and Jain legends and folklore contain numerous references to the role and importance of the peafowl.