Hindu / Buddhist / Greek / Christian

Peacock

In Hindu tradition, the peacock is the vehicle (vahana) of Kartikeya (Skanda/Murugan), symbolizing the destruction of ego, and its eating of poisonous snakes represents transforming poison into beauty; in Greek tradition it was sacred to Hera and in Christian tradition a symbol of immortality and resurrection.

TraditionHindu / Buddhist / Greek / Christian
SymbolVahana of Kartikeya; many-eyed tail; serpent-eater
DomainsTransformation · Confidence · Protection
Provenance URLhttps://www.artic.edu/artworks/13853/karttikeya-commander-of-the-divine-army-seated-on-a-peacock

Citation

Pal, Pratapaditya. "Indian Sculpture: LACMA Collection." LACMA, 1986.

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