Vāsantī dāsī: Gurudeva, does baby Kṛṣṇa wear a peacock feather? We see in pictures that He wears a peacock feather, but in Veṇu-gīta it is stated that once, when the peacocks were dancing for Kṛṣṇa, one of the peacocks offered Him his peacock feather and Kṛṣṇa placed it on His own head, and since then He began to wear it always.*
Śrīla Bhaktivedānta Nārāyaṇa Mahārāja: He wears a peacock feather both when He is a baby and a youth. In Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta it has been clearly written that He is actually always in kiśora age (a teenage youth of about 14 years old). From kiśora, He expands to be a baby or any other age. In His original feature He never becomes older or younger than kiśora.
*An excerpt from Śrīla Bhaktivedānta Nārāyaṇa Mahārāja’s Bhakti-rasāyana, Chapter Two:
Kṛṣṇa saw Girirāja Govardhana resplendent with creepers, blooming flowers, and ripe fruits. The breeze was blowing very gently, seemingly unable to carry the full weight of the flowers’ fragrance. Seeing this natural splendour, the desire for enjoyment arose in Kṛṣṇa, and He played the flute very softly. Hearing this deep vibration, the peacocks went mad, dancing in rhythm with their tail-feathers fully spread out. At that time, all of the animals, birds, and insects of Vṛndāvana congregated in the meadows of Govardhana to witness the performance.
One of the peacocks thought, “Kṛṣṇa is playing such a beautiful melody on His flute and dancing in such a way that we are feeling great happiness, but I have nothing to offer Him in return. I have no golden necklace around my neck, or any valuable ornaments.
“I am simply an animal, but the feathers of my tail are very valuable. There is nothing in this world which can compare to their beauty, and upon seeing them everyone becomes pleased. These seven-coloured feathers are so attractive, so is there any reason I shouldn’t offer Him one feather?” He therefore left behind one of his feathers.
Seeing this, Kṛṣṇa thought, “That peacock is very loving; he has fully appreciated My flute-playing and has offered Me one of his valuable feathers. There is nothing artificial in this offering.”
Lifting up the feather and placing it on His head, Kṛṣṇa thought, “Just as the flute is dear to Me, this peacock feather has now become dear to Me. While walking, resting, dreaming, standing, or sitting, I will never abandon it. Wherever I may go in Vraja, I will never abandon the flute or this peacock feather.” This is the origin of the peacock feather becoming Kṛṣṇa’s most celebrated ornament.
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