The Peacock: an ancient perspective

The Peacock is a world renowned bird that originated in South Africa, South Asia and Southeast Asia. There are 3 distinct varieties, each flashing their own respective colors.

The blue peacock (Indian Peafowl) originated,India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and Nepal. They are mentioned in many mythical. This essay is based upon the Encyclopedia of mystics, There are Peacock myths dating back as far as Mesopotamia and the Garden of Eden.

According to lore the peacock was a bird or paradise: Below is a list of peafowl according to color and species.

Native Regions by Species

Congo Peafowl: Democratic Republic of the Congo in Central Africa.

Indian Peafowl (Blue Peacock): India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and Nepal.

Green Peafowl:

Myanmar (Burma), Thailand, Java (Indonesia), and parts of China and Indochina.

By Panji Gusti Akbar - — By Panji Gusti Akbar – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=78684857

The Peacock in History

The peacock is a beautiful bird native to Asia. Beliefs about the peacock are based throughout southern Asia. Places like India or where there a large Hindu. Population, have great reverence for the Peacock. Because of its importance to the Hindu religion,India has made the peacock its national bird.The peacock is mentioned as a part of the Hindu teachings of the Rig Veda. In the rig Veda writings, writing whuich have been around since 1200 BC.

The peacock feather is noted being part of the Steeds of the Gods.

Also in the Ramayana when the gods changed themselves into animal forms in order to escape the Demon Ravana Indra the hindu god of rain,storms and war, became a peacock. This act gained revereence for thye birds and the bird became noted for being endoed with the power to celebrate the coming of rain and to kill snakes. He also was given 1000 eyes in its feathers. One of the classical Hindu dances id called “sportive of the peacock.Divine beings are portrayed as riding a peacock. India portrays Brahma and his wife Sarasvati riding a peacock,

in Indo China, Skanda the warrior god rode a peacock and inJapan Kujaku myoo the warrior protects from calamity and also brings rain rode a peacock.The association with the peacock to fortell rain was even spread into European lands and as far west as Ireland.

In the 15th century Hortus Sanitatis declared the peacock mount on high when there is to be rain and the author Michael Drayton wrote of “the strutting peacock yawling against the rain”. The peacock is also believed to have protective powers.

The peacocks still holds a place in everyone’s heart, even after 4000 years! Peacocks are considered a proud and majestic bird and have made it’s home throughout the United States, as well as many other countries.