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Karnavedhana Samskara is one of the Samskaras of childhood practiced in Sanatana Dharma. Ther term 'Karnavedhana' suggests piercing of the ear. Thus it is the samskara where the child ear lobe is pierced. Ancient acharyas have described in depth 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 acharyas have also mentioned about this and considered this an important rite od passage.
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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 described in depth 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 ==
 
== Karnavedhana as described in Ashtanga Samgraha ==
(Ashtanga Samgraha Utarasthanam Adhyaya 1 Sutra 38)
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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> The details are as below,
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=== Time of samskara ===
Time of samskara  
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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|
 
षट्सप्ताष्टममासेषु नीरुजस्य शुभेऽहनि|
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कर्णौ हिमागमे विद्ध्येद्धात्र्यङ्कस्थस्य सान्त्वयन्|
 
कर्णौ हिमागमे विद्ध्येद्धात्र्यङ्कस्थस्य सान्त्वयन्|
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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 shohul dbe selected when the climate outside is cold.
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The procedure
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=== The procedure ===
 
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Vrddha vagbhata in Ashtanga samgraha has advised a skilled Vaidya to perform this procedure.
प्राग्दक्षिणं कुमारस्य भिषग्वामं तु योषितः|
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दक्षिणेन दधत् सूचीं पालीमन्येन पाणिना|
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मध्यतः कर्णपीठस्य किद्दिगण्डाशयं प्रति|
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जरायुमात्रप्रच्छन्ने रविरश्म्यवभासिते|
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घृतस्य निश्चलं सम्यगलक्तकरसाङ्किते|
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Vaidya is advised to take a needle in right hand and hold the ear lobule of the child with left hand.
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The site of ear piercing
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The child should be held in lap and his ear lobule should be held against sunlight.
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विध्येद्दैवकृते छिद्रे सकृदेवर्जु लाघवात्|
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For a male child, right ear is to be pierced while for the female child, left ear lobule is to be pierced
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नोर्ध्वं न पार्श्वतो नाधः सिरास्तत्र हि संश्रिताः|
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==== The site of ear piercing ====
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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,<blockquote>विध्येद्दैवकृते छिद्रे सकृदेवर्जु लाघवात्|
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नोर्ध्वं न पार्श्वतो नाधः सिरास्तत्र हि संश्रिताः|</blockquote>When the ear lobule is held in a position against the sunlight, one can see the the sunrays directly passing through a point 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.
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Sira related to this par of ear and effects of their rupture
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The point of piercing should be in the middle of the ear lobule and slightly towards the cheek area.
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कालिकामर्मरीरक्तास्तद्व्यधाद्रागरुग्ज्वराः|
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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.
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सशोफदाहसंरम्भमन्यास्तम्भापतानकाः|
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Holding ear lobule against sun visualizes course of fine vessels, to avoid bleeding.
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तेषां यथामयं कुर्याद्विभज्याशु चिकित्सितम्|
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==== Sira related to this part of ear and effects of their rupture ====
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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. 
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स्थानव्यधान्न रुधिरं न रुग्रागादिसम्भवः|
      
स्नेहाक्तं सूच्यनुस्यूतं सूत्रं चानु निधापयेत्|
 
स्नेहाक्तं सूच्यनुस्यूतं सूत्रं चानु निधापयेत्|
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स्वेदितोद्वर्तितं कर्णमभ्यक्तं बृंहणैः पुनः|
 
स्वेदितोद्वर्तितं कर्णमभ्यक्तं बृंहणैः पुनः|
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=== Contraindications ===
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Ayurveda scholars have described some conditions when Karnavedhana is contraindicated. Those are as below,
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Contraindications
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# When the child is suffering form indigestion
 
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# When there is excess of malas accumulated in the child's body (A vaidya can assess this)
नाजीर्णे न मलोद्रेके न चात्युष्णेऽपि वर्धयेत्|
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# When the climate outside is very hot.
 
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Precautions
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सदा च युञ्ज्यादभ्यङ्गान् कर्णपालीगदोदितान्|
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पुष्टिनीरुक्त्वजननानिति संवर्धिते दृढे|
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Post procedure
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The piercing done in contraindicated situations can lead to adverse effects and impaired healing of the wound.
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कलधौतावबद्धानि कर्णे रत्नानि निक्षिपेत्|
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=== Precautions ===
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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.
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=== Post procedure ===
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Once the ear hole generated on ear piercing is found to be in healthy state it is suggested to wear ornaments in it.
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Other
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The ear rings made up of gold studded with ratna (precious stones) should be worn in the ear.
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=== Other ===
 
भिन्द्यादवृद्धौ स्त्रीणान्तु पालीमन्तरपाङ्गतः|
 
भिन्द्यादवृद्धौ स्त्रीणान्तु पालीमन्तरपाङ्गतः|
  
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