Vedic Index of Names and Subjects v2.c4.s4.261

v2.c4.s4.261

Mayūra, ‘peacock,’ occurs in the Rigveda in the compounds describing Indra’s horses, *mayūra-roman*,¹ ‘with hair like peacocks’ feathers,’ and *mayūra-śepya*,² ‘with tails like those of peacocks.’ The peacock also appears in the list of victims at the Aśvamedha (‘horse sacrifice’) in the Yajurveda Saṃhitās.³ The pea-hen, Mayūrī, is mentioned in the Rigveda⁴ and the Atharvaveda,⁵ in both cases with reference to the bird’s efficacy against poison, a curious superstition to be compared with the modern dislike of peacocks’ feathers.