Peacock

Many Hindu and Buddhist objects are made in the shape of peacocks as protective creatures. Hindus believe its feathers protect energy, bring prosperity and are a reminder of the celebration of life. In India peacocks have historically been common motifs in Indian ancient stories, poems, songs and art as symbols of love, joy, peace, harmony and poise and have a strong and auspicious tradition in Hindu religion and mysticism. Many Hindu sculptures use peacocks as a symbol of the cycle of time since it represents the succession of temporal cycles in Hindu cosmogony. Lord Vishnu used a feather from Garuda, the majestic bird that carries him on its back, to create the peacock. It is closely associated with many other deities: Lakshmi, Saraswati and Krishna. It is regarded as a protective creature for the physical and psychic self as its screech is a warning of possible danger. In the home its feathers are believed to protect the energy in the environment and to bring prosperity. It is a constant reminder of the celebration of life as during courting the male bird dances for the benefit of the female. In 1963, it was declared the India’s National Bird.

Some Hindu legends claim that the Buddha was a golden peacock in a previous birth. In Buddhism it is 83 of the 108 images on the Buddha’s footprint, it represents the short-lived nature of all things since its forms appear and vanish as swiftly it displays and furls its tail, and in esoteric Buddhism it is a symbol of wholeness that combines all colors in its tail. It is used in Burmese folk art, architecture and on utilitarian carvings such as heddle pulleys and ox carts as the emblem of its last dynasty the Kon-baung Dynasty (1845-1941). The Peacock Dance is performed to end droughts and peacocks are sacrificed to bring rain and the heavenly gift of fertility. It also symbolizes beauty and dignity and the desire for peace and prosperity.