PARAVANI

PARAVANI

The Paravani, Mayil, Mayura or the peacock is the vahana or vehicle of the Lord Karthikeya, Murugan, Subrahmanya, Skanda, Kumara, Saravana, Arumukha, Devasenapati, Shanmukha, Kathirvela, Guha or Swaminatha. The legend has it that the demon king Surapadman, with the boon he received from the gods had become invincible. He believed that he was immortal and began tormenting all across the universe. Lord Kartikeya confronted the Surapadman and he evaded the Lord’s attacks. The demon transformed himself into a large tree near Tiruchendur. Lord Kartikeya using his Vel, the divine spear struck the tree and split Surapadman into two halves. The demon sought forgiveness from the Lord and transformed the halves into Mayil or peacock and a rooster. Lord Kartikeya, by his grace, blessed Surapadman by adopting  the Mayil as his vehicle or vahana and rooster as his emblem. The Mayil represents beauty, colour, grace and variety. The peacock consumes snakes and therefore it represents transformation negativity into positivity. The Mayil or peacock also represents the victory of knowledge and wisdom over ignorance and pride.