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Karnavedhana Samskara is one of the Samskaras of childhood practiced in Sanatana Dharma. The term 'Karnavedhana' suggests piercing of the ear. Thus, it is the samskara wherein, the child's ear lobe is pierced. Ancient acharyas have elaborately discussed about when this samskara is performed, how it is done and all other relevant aspects. Among Ayurveda scholars, Acharya Vagbhata in Ashtanga Samgraha describes this samskara and the health related aspects of it in detail. All other samhitas (treatises) have also mentioned about this and considered this an important rite of passage.

Karnavedhana Samskara (Samskrit: कर्णवेधनसंस्कारः or कर्णवेध) is one of the [[Samskaras (संस्काराः)|Samskaras]] of childhood practiced in [[Sanatana Dharma (सनातनधर्मः)|Sanatana Dharma]]. The term 'Karnavedhana' suggests piercing of the ear. Thus, it is the samskara wherein, the child's ear lobe is pierced. Ancient acharyas have elaborately discussed about when this samskara is performed, how it is done and all other relevant aspects. Among [[Ayurveda (आयुर्वेदः)|Ayurveda]] scholars, Acharya Vagbhata in Ashtanga Samgraha describes this samskara and the health related aspects of it in detail. All other samhitas (treatises) have also mentioned about this and considered this an important rite of passage.

== Karnavedha in Ancient texts ==

== Karnavedha in Ancient texts ==

Gṛhyasūtras are silent on Karṇavedha and nor are there frequent references found in the Vedic and Post-Vedic literature. The slight reference to the boring of ears in Atharvaveda is not enough to qualify it as a ceremony, because it is less known that in what sense was the term used, and it never implied a specific ceremony. So, it can be concluded that the practice of boring the ears might have existed for centuries together but not as a ceremony rather a common practice with less cultural and religious significance and function.<ref name=":5">Chahal, Mandeep (2020) Ph.D Thesis Titled: ''[http://hdl.handle.net/10603/309999 Samskaras in the Grihyasutras historical account of Jatakarma Upanyana Vivaha and Antyeshti.]'' (Chapter 3)</ref>

[[Grhyasutras (गृह्यसूत्राणि)|Grhyasutras]] are silent on Karṇavedha and nor are there frequent references found in the Vedic and Post-Vedic literature. The slight reference to the boring of ears in Atharvaveda is not enough to qualify it as a ceremony, because it is less known that in what sense was the term used, and it never implied a specific ceremony. So, it can be concluded that the practice of boring the ears might have existed for centuries together but not as a ceremony rather a common practice with less cultural and religious significance and function.<ref name=":5">Chahal, Mandeep (2020) Ph.D Thesis Titled: ''[http://hdl.handle.net/10603/309999 Samskaras in the Grihyasutras historical account of Jatakarma Upanyana Vivaha and Antyeshti.]'' (Chapter 3)</ref> Vyasa Smrti is one of the Smrtis which mentions Karnavedha as one of the sixteen samskaras.<ref name=":3">Shukla, Sacchidanand (2008) ''Hindu Dharm ke Solah Sanskar''. Delhi: Prabhat Prakashan.</ref>

It is historically tough to trace as to when this practice started but what can be opined about it is that it might have been for wearing ornaments that ears were bored, which was a common practice in ancient India was well among both men and women. But decoration was not a single motive of the Karṇavedha Saṁskāra, it had medical significance as well. Suśruta regards the boring of ears with dual purpose of decoration and protection against the diseases.<ref name=":5" />

It is historically tough to trace as to when this practice started but what can be opined about it is that it might have been for wearing ornaments that ears were bored, which was a common practice in ancient India was well among both men and women. But decoration was not a single motive of the Karṇavedha Saṁskāra, it had medical significance as well. Suśruta regards the boring of ears with dual purpose of decoration and protection against the diseases.<ref name=":5" />

== आयुर्वेदे कर्णवेधनम्॥ Karnavedhana as described in Ayurveda ==

== आयुर्वेदे कर्णवेधनम्॥ Karnavedhana as described in Ayurveda ==

Ashtanga samgraha is one of the highly referred Ayurveda treatise authored by Vrddha Vagbhata. Karnavedhana samskara has been described in first adhyaya (Chapter) of section named uttaasthana in it.<ref>Ashtanga Samgraha (Utarasthanam Adhyaya 1 Sutra 38)</ref> Also Acharya Sushruta discuss in brief about this samskara in Sushruta Samhita sutrasthanam.<ref name=":0">Sushruta Samhita (Sutrasthanam Adhyaya 16 Sutra 3)</ref> The details are as below,

Ashtanga samgraha is one of the highly referred Ayurveda treatise authored by Vrddha Vagbhata. Karnavedhana samskara has been described in first adhyaya (Chapter) of section named uttaasthana in it.<ref>Ashtanga Samgraha (Utarasthanam Adhyaya 1 Sutra 38)</ref> Also Acharya Sushruta discusses in brief about this samskara in Sushruta Samhita sutrasthanam.<ref name=":0">Sushruta Samhita (Sutrasthanam Adhyaya 16 Sutra 3)</ref> The details are as below,

=== संस्कारकालः॥ Time of samskara ===

=== संस्कारकालः॥ Time of samskara ===

Karnavedhana is one of the post-natal samskaras performed in early childhood. The right time to perform this samskara has been described in terms of age of child, day in a calendar and external climate at that point of time. <blockquote>षट्सप्ताष्टममासेषु नीरुजस्य शुभेऽहनि|

Karnavedhana is one of the [[Childhood Samskaras (बाल्यावस्थे संस्काराः)|post-natal samskaras]] performed in early childhood. The right time to perform this samskara has been described in terms of age of child, day in a calendar and external climate at that point of time. <blockquote>षट्सप्ताष्टममासेषु नीरुजस्य शुभेऽहनि । कर्णौ हिमागमे विद्ध्येद्धात्र्यङ्कस्थस्य सान्त्वयन् ।।</blockquote>It is advised that, ear piercing is to be done when the child is of 6/7/8 months old. It should be performed when the child is not suffering form any other illness or pain. An auspicious day should be selected when the climate outside is cold. Acharya Sushruta says that preferably the samskara should be performed in shukla paksha i.e. in the brighter half of the lunar cycle. 

कर्णौ हिमागमे विद्ध्येद्धात्र्यङ्कस्थस्य सान्त्वयन्|</blockquote>It is advised that, ear piercing is to be done when the child is of 6/7/8 months old. It should be performed when the child is not suffering form any other illness or pain. An auspicious day should be selected when the climate outside is cold. Acharya Sushruta says that preferably the samskara should be performed in shukla paksha i.e. in the brighter half of the lunar cycle.

Elsewhere it is mentioned<ref name=":3" /> that Karnavedha is performed before the Upanayana samskara. It is said that without having the ears pierced a person is not eligible to perform [[Shraddha (श्राद्धम्)|Shraddha]] karma for the ancestors. According to Devala, even seeing a brahman whose ears are not pierced, and the sun rays do not pass through them, causes the loss of punya and such a person should not be invited to Shraddha karma. 

 

However, many texts mention that this samskara has to be performed in the early years of the child. Viramitrodaya mentions a few of them. 

 

* According to Acharya Garga, sixth, seventh, eighth and twelfth months are suitable for this samskara.  

* According to Shripati, this samskara has to be performed when the child is playing in the mother's lap and teething has not started.  

* According to Katyayana sutras, the suitable time to perform karnavedha is in the third or fifth year of the child.

 

Performing this samskara in a young age may cause less pain and can be done easily. In the present times [[Chaulam (चौलम्)|Chudakarana]], Karnavedha and [[Upanayana (उपनयनम्)|Upanayana]] are being performed at the same time.<ref name=":3" />

=== संस्कारविधिः॥ The procedure ===

=== संस्कारविधिः॥ The procedure ===

* Vrddha vagbhata in Ashtanga samgraha and Sushruta have advised a skilled Vaidya to perform this procedure.  

* Auspicious rituals and holy recitations should be performed before beginning the samskara.

* Vrddha vagbhata in Ashtanga samgraha and Sushruta have advised a skilled Vaidya to perform this procedure.

* Vaidya is advised to take a needle in right hand and hold the ear lobule of the child with left hand.  

* Auspicious rituals and holy recitations should be performed before beginning the samskara.

* The child should be held in lap and his ear lobule should be held against sunlight.  

* Vaidya is advised to take a needle in right hand and hold the ear lobule of the child with left hand.

* For a male child, right ear is to be pierced while for the female child, left ear lobule is to be pierced

* The child should be held in lap and his ear lobule should be held against sunlight.

* For a male child, right ear is to be pierced while for the female child, left ear lobule is to be pierced first.

==== कर्णवेधनस्थानम्॥ The site of ear piercing ====

==== कर्णवेधनस्थानम्॥ The site of ear piercing ====