In Hinduism

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Source: archive.org: Puranic Encyclopedia

Mayil (मयिल्).—(peacock) In Uttara Rāmāyaṇa there is a story about how the peacock got its beauty. Mayil in Malayālam means peacock.

Once Rāvaṇa set out in his Puṣpaka Vimāna with his army of Rākṣasas, determined to gain victory over all Kings. They got down on the mountain called Uśīravīra. Rāvaṇa examined the valley to see whether there were any Kings doing tapas anywhere there. A King named Marutta was performing a yāga called "Māheśvara" in an āśrama. Indra and other gods were also present to receive the share of offerings (Havirbhāga). At the sight of Rāvaṇa, the gods took different disguises and fled in panic. At that time Indra assumed the form of a big peacock. As soon as Rāvaṇa left the place, the gods reassembled there. From that time, Indra who put on the disguise of a peacock felt a special attachment to that bird. He called the peacock and said:—"Till now you were blue in colour. But from today onwards, your feathers will have various colours. All my thousand eyes I transfer to you Besides, you will be immune from all diseases. Whoever kills you, will meet with death, soon after. You will dance at the commencement of the rainy season. People will greet you with enthusiasm."

It is because of Indra’s blessing that Peacocks are so beautiful in appearance and dance at the onset of the rainy season.

context information

The Purana (पुराण, purāṇas) refers to Sanskrit literature preserving ancient India’s vast cultural history, including historical legends, religious ceremonies, various arts and sciences. The eighteen mahapuranas total over 400,000 shlokas (metrical couplets) and date to at least several centuries BCE.

Shilpashastra (iconography)

Source: Shodhganga: The significance of the mūla-beras (śilpa)

Mayil (“peacock”) refers to a type of animal form, representing one of the several “attributes” (āyudha) or “accessories” of a detiy commonly seen depicted in Hindu iconography, defined according to texts dealing with śilpa (arts and crafs), known as śilpaśāstras.—The śilpa texts have classified the various accessories under the broad heading of āyudha or karuvi (implement), including even flowers, animals, and musical instruments. The animals and birds found as vehicles for the deities or held as attributes or weapons in the hands of the deities are, for example, Mayil.

context information

Shilpashastra (शिल्पशास्त्र, śilpaśāstra) represents the ancient Indian science (shastra) of creative arts (shilpa) such as sculpture, iconography and painting. Closely related to Vastushastra (architecture), they often share the same literature.

Biology (plants and animals)

Source: Google Books: CRC World Dictionary (Regional names)

Mayil in India is the name of a plant defined with Clitoria ternatea in various botanical sources. This page contains potential references in Ayurveda, modern medicine, and other folk traditions or local practices It has the synonym Lathyrus spectabilis Forssk. (among others).

Example references for further research on medicinal uses or toxicity (see latin names for full list):

· Prodromus Systematis Naturalis Regni Vegetabilis (DC.) (1825)
· Inst. Rei Herb. (1766)
· Moscosoa (1990)
· Journal of the Proceedings of the Linnean Society (1857)
· Encyclopédie Méthodique. Botanique (1811)
· Revisio Generum Plantarum (1898)

If you are looking for specific details regarding Mayil, for example diet and recipes, health benefits, pregnancy safety, chemical composition, extract dosage, side effects, have a look at these references.

context information

This sections includes definitions from the five kingdoms of living things: Animals, Plants, Fungi, Protists and Monera. It will include both the official binomial nomenclature (scientific names usually in Latin) as well as regional spellings and variants.

Languages of India and abroad

Tamil dictionary

Source: DDSA: University of Madras: Tamil Lexicon

Mayil (மயில்) noun cf. mayūra. [Malayalam: mayil, Travancore usage mair.]

1. Peacock, peafowl, Pavo cristatus; பறவைவகை. பயில்பூஞ் சோலை மயிலெழுந் தாலவும் [paravaivagai. payilpugn solai mayilezhun thalavum] (புறநானூறு [purananuru] 116).

2. See மயிற்கொன்றை [mayirkonrai],

1. 3. False peacock’s-foot tree. See மயிலடிக்குருந்து. (வைத்திய மலையகராதி) [mayiladikkurunthu. (vaithiya malaiyagarathi)]

4. See மயூராசனம். முத்த மயிறண்டு [mayurasanam. mutha mayirandu] (தத்துவப்பிரகாசம் [thathuvappiragasam] 107).

context information

Tamil is an ancient language of India from the Dravidian family spoken by roughly 250 million people mainly in southern India and Sri Lanka.

See also (Relevant definitions)

Starts with (+46): Mayil konrai, Mayil-erum-perumalpillai, Mayil-erumperumal, Mayil-konai, Mayila, Mayilaadi, Mayiladi, Mayiladuturiai, Mayilai, Mayilai-nocci, Mayilainanti, Mayilainatar, Mayilainati, Mayilainatittulaci, Mayilainochi, Mayilaipay, Mayilaippanam, Mayilali, Mayilam, Mayilameni.

Ends with: Iyantiramayil, Tokaimayil.

Full-text (+43): Mayilvakanan, Mayilali, Mayil-konai, Mayil-erumperumal, Mayil konrai, Nakaraviram, Tittankam, Mayiliyal, Vicittirankam, Pirapatikam, Mayilmin, Mayilmunivan, Kirukavaku, Akipucam, Iyantiramayil, Cutarkkatai, Cantiraki, Mayilatuturai, Mekaram, Kalapi.

Relevant text

Search found 3 books and stories containing Mayil; (plurals include: Mayils). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Later Chola Temples (by S. R. Balasubrahmanyam)

Temples in Mayuram < [Chapter XIV - Temples of Rajaraja III’s Time]

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Tiruvaymoli (Thiruvaimozhi): English translation (by S. Satyamurthi Ayyangar)

Pasuram 2.10.10 < [Section 10 - Tenth Tiruvaymoli (Kilar oli ilamai)]

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Triveni Journal

Tamil Poetry since Independence < [April 1963]

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