How did the peacock become the Hindu god Murugan's vehicle (Vahana)?
As per Kumarasambhava, an epic poem written by Kalidasa on Lord Kartikeya/Murugan and Shiva Mahapuraanam.
The story starts from here when Lord Murugan (also called Kartikeya) was taken away from the Kritikas ( Lord Kartikeya's foster mothers) by the devas and was brought to Lord Shiva and Maa Paarvati who were his real Parents. Then Lord Kartikeya was trained by Lord Shiva and Maa Paarvati and Maa Paarvati gave him her Shakti in the form of a weapon called Vel the divine spear or the holy spear having Tripundram on it which was signifies Shiva Shakti power or the blessings of a parent will always be there with their Son. Lord Kartikeya marched towards the Veer Mahendrapuri the Kingdom of Tarkasura. Tarkasura and Surapadman were the son of Varangi, an apsara and Asura Vajranga. The couple then went to a Maharishi to meditate for centuries. Hence, the siblings grew up to be Asuras. Tarkasura did a very long penance to Shiva. As a result, he was granted a boon that no one except Shiva's offspring, born without shiva's union with a female, in any nature, could either kill or defeat him.
This boon resulted in a highly negative effect, as Tarkasura took it to his head, and he conquered the mortal world, either by direct war, or by subjugation as inferior rulers as Lord Shiva at that time was a complete Yogi and was in a continuous waiting for Devi Adi Shakti (Paarvati) to take avatar on earth so that he can marry her.
He established a capital of his empire at Veera Mahendrapuri, two miles into the sea, and gave parts of his vast empire to his brothers. At the same time his sister's arm was amputated by a guard of the heaven's queen Saachi ( Wife of Lord Indradeva) as the sister was trying to get the queen for Tarkasura as a concubine. This angered Tarkasura who then conquered the heaven, and took all devas as prisoners and tortured them. Tarkasura gave his brother Surpadman the entrance part the empires as it also consists of many large kingdoms.
Lord Murugan fiercely attacked the kingdom and killed thousands of Asuras. Then an army led by Surpadman attacked Lord Murugan but Murugan easily defeated them. Surpadman was surprised by the power of a young boy and ran with his full power to Tarkasura. Finally Tarkasura enterd into the war. Tarkasura injured Lord badly. This angered Maa Paarvati and she after a long time again took her Mahakaali roop. She entered the war and killed many Asuras and then healed Lord Murugan. Finally both reached Tarkasura and then Lord Kartikeya finally killed Tarkasura the emperor of the Asuras. Surpadman fall the feet of Maa Mahakaali and asked for forgiveness. Maa rejected him and said that you have tried to kill my son ( Kartikeya/Murugan) thousands of time so now your forgiveness depends on my son. Surpadman begged for his life and was feeling guilty for his deeds and now he wanted to serve the Lord as Pascyaatap for his Paap ( for removal of his sins). Lord Murugan/ Kartikeya agreed for this and accepted him as his Vahana. Surpadman was having a boon that he can become a Peacock anytime he wanted. So now he became a peacock as the vahana of Lord Kartikeya/Murugan till anantha ( Infinity) as after becoming as his vahana he got Amaratva (Immortality) and Lord Kartikeya was announced as Devsenapati (Commander in Chief of Devas) by Lord Indradeva.
This is how Surpadman became vahana of Lord Kartikeya Or Murugan whatever you call him, he is one and the same, Elder Son of Shiva Shakti and husband of Maa Devsena (also called Sasthi Devi or Chhathi Maiya in Purvanchal, Bihar and Jharkhand) and Maa Valli devi ( also called Valli Maiya or Valli Mata in Purvanchal, Bihar and Jharkhand).
Here is a beautiful and powerful mantra for Lord Kartikeya/Murugan :—
Om Sharavana-bhavaya Namaha
Gyaanashaktidhara skanda valliikalyaana sundara
Devasenaa manah kaanta kaartikeya namo-as-tute
Om subrahmanyaaya namah.
ऊं शारवाना-भावाया नमः
ज्ञानशक्तिधरा स्कंदा वल्लीईकल्याणा सुंदरा
देवसेना मनः काँता कार्तिकेया नामोस्तुते
ऊं सुब्रहमणयाया नमः ||
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