Which Buddhist goddess rides a peacock and protects from poison?

The Buddhist goddess who rides a peacock and protects against poison is Mahamayuri.

Mahamayuri, whose Sanskrit name means “Great Peacock,” is a bodhisattva and female Wisdom King in Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhism. She is especially associated with protection from poison, illness, fear, and other dangers. Her peacock mount is central to her identity and explains her distinctive iconography.

Her protective role is expressed in the Mahamayuri Vidyarajni Sutra, a Buddhist scripture centered on her mantra or dharani. In one well-known narrative context, the Buddha teaches the protective spell after a monk is bitten by a poisonous snake. Ritual recitation of the text is intended to dispel poison and safeguard living beings.

Mahamayuri is often shown with peacock feathers or seated on a peacock, sometimes holding three or five tails. The bird’s ability in traditional lore to consume snakes and poisonous creatures symbolizes the transformation of harmful substances into protective wisdom. She is sometimes called a Wisdom Queen or Peacock Wisdom King, despite her female form.