Karnavedhana Samskara (कर्णवेधन संस्कारः)

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 as described in Ashtanga Samgraha

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. Also Acharya Sushruta discuss in brief about this samskara in Sushruta Samhita sutrasthanam. The details are as below,

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.

षट्सप्ताष्टममासेषु नीरुजस्य शुभेऽहनि| कर्णौ हिमागमे विद्ध्येद्धात्र्यङ्कस्थस्य सान्त्वयन्|

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.

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

The site of ear piercing

The site of ear piercing should be carefully selected because pricking at wrong site might be troublesome for the child and lead to illness. The directions on hoe to select the site have been given in the Ashtanga samgraha as below,

विध्येद्दैवकृते छिद्रे सकृदेवर्जु लाघवात्| नोर्ध्वं न पार्श्वतो नाधः सिरास्तत्र हि संश्रिताः|

• When the ear lobule is held in a position against the sunlight, one can see a point where the sunrays appear to be directly passing through in an ear lobule. This point is called as Daivakrt cchidra and it is the point where piercing done doesn't cause any adverse effect and hence is the right site of pricking.

• The point of piercing should be in the middle of the ear lobule and slightly towards the cheek area.

• Increasing of pierced hole should be done by oil soaked cotton or small Nimba (Azadirachta indica) twig or smooth ear ring made of lead. These modes to increase the pierced hole offer lubrication and prevention of wound infection.

• Holding ear lobule against sun visualizes course of fine vessels, to avoid bleeding.

Sira related to this part of ear and effects of their rupture

Ayurveda scholars have denoted that there are 2 different types of vessels in the ear lobule. Those have been named as Kalila, marmarika and rakta. These vessels when inadvertently punctured while ear piercing might lead to multiple ill effects like inflammation, severe pain, fever, swelling, burning sensation, neck stiffness and even sometimes spasmodic contractions. Thus one needs to be very careful while selecting the site for ear piercing. If the ear is pierced at the right site as described earlier, it does not bleed and doesn't cause pain or even inflammation.

Contraindications

Ayurveda scholars have described some conditions when Karnavedhana is contraindicated. Those are as below,

1. When the child is suffering form indigestion
2. When there is excess of malas accumulated in the child's body (A vaidya can assess this)
3. When the climate outside is very hot.

The piercing done in contraindicated situations can lead to adverse effects and impaired healing of the wound.

Precautions

Those who already have some health issues related to the ear lobule are advised to apply oil daily on the ear lobes. Regular abhyanga (oil massage) provides strength to the era lobe tissue and reduces pain.

The objective behind ear piercing

रक्षाभूषणनिमित्तं बालस्य कर्णौ विध्येते | (Suhs. Samh. 16.3)

The ear piercing should be done for raksha (protection) and aabhushana (wearing ornaments). Once the ear hole generated on ear piercing is found to be in healthy state it is suggested to wear ornaments in it.

The ear rings made up of gold studded with ratna (precious stones) should be worn in the ear.

Other

भिन्द्यादवृद्धौ स्त्रीणान्तु पालीमन्तरपाङ्गतः|

नैव चापाङ्गयोर्बाह्यां व्यापदः स्युस्ततो ध्रुवाः|

जिह्वसूचीव्यधाद्वर्तिगाढत्वादथवा मलैः|

जाते महति संरम्भे वर्तिमाश्वपनीय तत्|

यवैरण्डजटायष्टीमञ्जिष्ठाज्यैः प्रलेपयेत्|

सुरूढं च पुनर्विद्धयेत्त्वरया तु विवर्धनात्|

छिद्येत पाली शुद्धस्य शुद्धास्त्रां सन्दधीत ताम्|

कर्णामयनिषेधोक्तसन्धानविधिना भिषक्||३८||