Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Peacock In Mythology

Peacock In Mythology


In Hindu mythology peacock is the vahan or the vehicle of Karthikeya and the Buddhist Goddess Mahamayuri.
In imagery Lord Krishna is always represented wearing a peacock feather tucked in his headband. Ma Saraswati is also depicted with a peacock standing on the side.
Traditionally peacock is a symbol of vastness (beauty), peace and poise (santulan).
Peacock mating season coincides with the onset of Shravan month with the start of monsoon and coincides with the onset of Chaturmas and Dakshinayana, a period of negativity of the mind.
Peacock symbolizes keeping ones vanity under control. Vanity is the excessive belief in one’s own abilities or attractiveness to others. It also means boasting in vain or unjustified boasting.
Karthikeya or the one who has control over his six senses ( five senses and the mind), depicted by six heads, riding on the peacock means that without having control over once vanity or pride one cannot win over the senses.
Peacock by the side of Saraswati also means that while learning (vast subject, blue colour) one must keep the vanity away.
Mahamayuri is one of the Wisdom Kings in the Buddhist Pantheon. She is a peaceful personification, in contrast to the wrathful attitudes of male personifications of the Wisdom Kings. She has the power to protect devotees from poisoning, either physical or spiritual. Peacock eats snakes also symbolize controlling once ego.

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