Surapadman

Surapadman is a demon of Sri Lanka who was almost slain by Lord Muruga (but, asking for pardon prior to dying, was forced to become Muruga's vahana, the peacock) in Hindu mythology.

Surapadman was the older brother of Taraka, an asura earlier killed by Muruga; as he would not surrender, Muruga had to kill most of his soldiers and defeat the middle brother Simhamukhan (whom he forced to become the vahana of Durga). As Surapadman still refused to surrender, the final battle arose and Surapadman was defeated. In the end, Muruga mortally wounded him with his javelin--and Surapadman asked his life be spared. Muruga granted this, on the provision that Surapadman would forever be his vahana--whereupon Surapadman assumed the form of a peacock.

External links

*http://www.murugan.org/gallery/kanda_puranam/html/kp_12.htm
*http://murugan.org/gallery/kanda_puranam/html/kp_17.htm
*http://tiruchendur.org/das-article.htm