Peacock

Indian bird with several divine associations. It is the animal vehicle of the god
Skanda, the son of Shiva, who is the
leader of the divine armies. The peacock’s quickness and resplendent
appearance are felt to mirror these qualities in the young god. The peacock also
has strong associations with the god
Krishna, who is usually depicted as
wearing a decorative crown containing
peacock feathers. This association may
come from the peacock’s connection
with the monsoon, which is the peacock
mating season, during which they utter
piercing calls in the forests and are
believed to dance with delight on the
hillsides. Krishna’s dark color often leads
to comparisons with rain clouds, and
like the peacock he spends his nights
dancing in the company of his devotees
(bhakta), in the celebration known as
the ras lila.