Lord Kartikeya and his vahana

Lord Kartikeya, the war-god, also known as Murugan in Southern India, has a peacock as his mount or vahana. This peacock was originally a demon called Surapadma, while the rooster was called the angel(Krichi). After provoking Murugan in combat, the demon repented at the moment his lance descended upon him. He took the form of a tree and began to pray!

 The tree was cut into two! From one half, Murugan pulled a rooster, which he made his emblem, and from the other, a peacock, which he made his mount. In another version, Kartikeya was born to kill the demon, Tarakasura. He was raised by the Krittikas and led the divine armies when he was only 6 days old!

As per legend, after defeating Tarakasura, Lord Kartikeya forgave him and transformed him into his mount, the peacock!