Mode of Sattva: Scientific explanation of Karnavedhana Sanskar (Pierceing of Child's Ear )

Category: Science in Ancient texts (Hindu Sanskar)

Hi Beautiful and Peaceful Souls,

In the series of blogs about sixteen sanskars, after discussing Nishkraman (https://thepureknowledge.blogspot.com/2020/08/nishkraman-sanskar-outing-ceremony-of.html), Annaprashan (https://thepureknowledge.blogspot.com/2020/08/scientific-explanation-of-annaprashan.html) and Mundan sanskar (https://thepureknowledge.blogspot.com/2020/08/scientific-explanation-of.html) in my previous blogs, today I will discuss about Karnavedhana sanskar.

What is Karnavedhana Sanskar?

Karnavadhana is one of the important sanskar mentioned in Hindu tradition which has been lost today. Ayurvedic scholars viz., Sushruta, Charaka, Kashayapa and Vagbhatta explained this sanskar in their respective texts. According to Sushruta and so as Charaka and Vagbhatta, this sanskar is performed for Raksha (protection) and Abhushana (Ornamental) purpose. Karnavedhana sanskar is performed on an auspicious muhurta between 3rd to 8th month of child's birth according to different Ayurveda Acharya and Gruhya sutras.

In this sanskar, the child is placed in the lap of male attendant who consoles the child and keeps him/her engaged with toys. Meanwhile, the physician pulls the ear with his left hand and pierce in the middle of Karnapeetha with his right hand slowly and evenly by a needle or awl. Karnapeetha is the area slightly towards cheeks, where skin is thinner and this pierced position has maximum translucency from the light source.

In the male child, the right ear should be pierced first while in female child, first piercing should be done in the left ear. This is followed by insertion of pichuvarti (cotton wick soaked in medicine) (13). This process is usually performed on an auspicious day, specially in winter season, to reduce the chances of infection. It is believed that the points where ear is pierced are specific points that coincide with masculine and feminine halves of a person based on respective gender. The right half of the body is masculine side and the left side is feminine. Ancient physicians used to treat diseases of feminine organs by putting earrings in the left ear and diseases of male organs via the right ear. The concept of wearing earring in right and left ear is based on yogic energic anatomy of human body. In this, the right side of body is regulated by Pingla or Solar Nadi, which governs the more masculine aspects of our personality. The same way, left side of body is governed by Ida or Lunar Nadi, which controls the feminine aspect of our personality.

Karnavedhana is a form of acupuncture. In acupuncture, a very thin needle is inserted to various depths through a person's skin at specific points on the body. Research suggests that it can help to relieve pain and bring back the balance in energy flow. Acupuncture points are seen as places where nerves, muscles and connective tissue can be stimulated. The stimulation increases blood flow viz-a-viz triggering the activity of the body’s natural painkillers. Modern research has demonstrated the effects of acupuncture on the nervous, endocrine, immune, cardiovascular and digestive system (10,11).

Scientific Explanation of Karnavedhana Sanskar

1. Injury produced by piercing the ear may initiate the antigen-antibody reaction providing active immunity to the child. This act also activates the immune mechanism to bring secondary immunity for any other potential infection due to injury.

A scientific report has demonstrated that the massive redistribution of immune cells throughout the body is orchestrated by three hormones released by the adrenal glands, in different amounts and at different times, in response to the stress inducing event (10). The norepinephrine is released early and is primarily involved in mobilizing all major immune-cell types; monocytes, neutrophils and lymphocytes into the blood. Epinephrine, also released early, mobilized monocytes and neutrophils into the blood, while nudging lymphocytes out into "battlefield" destinations such as skin. Corticosterone, released somewhat later, causes virtually all immune cell types to head out of circulation to the "battlefields". The overall effect of these movements is to bolster immune readiness.

Therefore, Ear piercing is a quick procedure, which probably triggers the same cascade of actions as described by Dr. Dhabhar of Stanford University (14). Any sort of mechanical trauma and inert material starts antigen-antibody reaction in the body. Therefore, ear piercing probably initiates antigen–antibody reaction in the body and by doing so keeps body’s immunity ready against opportunistic infections.

Friends, before discussing second point, I want to introduce you all with the term "Auriculotherapy". It is also called auricular therapy, ear acupuncture and auriculo acupuncture is a form of alternative medicine based on the idea that ear is a micro system, which reflects the entire body, represented on the auricle, the outer portion of the ear (external ear or pinna).

So, ear lobe which is part of ear auricle is made up of strong aerolar and adipose tissue, which is normally smooth but shows creases. Thus, ear lobe consist of tissues rather than cartilages like rest of the ear, they have large blood supply. It contains many nerve endings and thus this blood supply is thought to be for helping us maintain our balance. According to Ayurveda, energy or meridian or pressure points in our ears are connected to organs and whole body, and that various parts of the ear are linked to other particular body parts.

2. Therefore, it is assumed that ear piercing improves the listening capacity and eye sight of child. This rite is thus intended to open inner ears of child to hear sacred sounds. A scientific reports showed that the position where ear is pierced has master sensorial point which controls cerebral cortex area of parietal (control sensory information from various parts of body), occipital (visual recognition and visual attention), and temporal (recognition of auditory stimuli, verbal and visual memory) lobe (16).

3. This sanskar is also responsible for intellectual development of child, that's why it is necessary to perform this sanskar before Upanayan sanskar (Sending the child to Gurukul for study). The right ear lobe corresponds to the left brain while left ear lobe corresponds to the right brain. Nerves in the ear are linked with various nerve centers in the brain and each sends different neurological pathway down the spinal cord, finally reaching to different neurons around the body and affecting different body parts. Thus, the ears act as powerful acupuncture pressure points that have a direct connection to the brain. Principles of acupressure therapy also claim that when these meridian points are stimulated, it helps in healthy and quick development of brain. A scientific report showed that the position where ear is pierced has master cerebral point which is associated with prefrontal lobe of the brain. Prefrontal cortex is cerebral cortex covering the front part of frontal lobe. It is involved functions of memory, attention, flexibility, planning, problem solving and decision making (16). I am amazed, how our ancestors knew all these things making sanskar compulsory for all.

4. According to Ayurveda, the lobe of ear has also an important point for reproductive health. So, piercing of ear maintains regularity in menstrual cycle in women and increases sperm count in men. The Father of Western Medicine, Hippocrates, wrote about ear piercings as a remedy and treatment for menstrual problems and he was backed by Galen.

5. The ear lobe also has a point to improve digestion and thus reduces the chances of obesity (17). Karnavedhana stimulates vagus nerve, which is associated with digestive tract hence helps in increasing appetite which is important for child's growth (10).

6. It is recommended to wear metal like gold or copper in the ear because it helps in maintaining the flow of electric current (energy) in the body. In ancient times, gold ear rings were recommended if there is deficiency in energy while silver ear rings were used if there is excess of energy flow. Gemstones were embedded in earrings for their therapeutic effects.

7. Auricular acupuncture prevents from various diseases such as paralysis, hysteria, hernia, anxiety, nervousness, insomnia (18), obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and many more.

According to microsystem of auricular acupuncture, we can nearly treat the whole body by treating respective points on the external ear or auricle. This means whole body is projected on to the auricle or an other way of putting it is, the ear mirrors the whole body or reflex the image of it. Acupuncture improves body’s functions and promotes the natural healing process by stimulating specific anatomical sites. A word of caution, according to Ayurveda, ear piercing done at a wrong place can have adverse effects on body.

I hope, this blog helps you to understand that Karnavedhana sanskar is purely a scientific practice backed by modern science.

Hope, you like it

Your's Sincerely

Purnima Ghai

References:

1.https://www.researchgate.net/publication/273120728_THE_CHILDHOOD_SAMSKARAS_RITES_OF_PASSAGE_AND_ITS_SCIENTIFIC_APPRECIATION

2.http://www.allresearchjournal.com/archives/2017/vol3issue3/PartG/3-2-98-953.pdf

3.http://interscience.org.uk/images/article/v8-i1/9ijahm.pdf

4.https://www.researchgate.net/publication/322951080_International_Journal_of_Ayurveda_and_Pharma_Research_Review_Article_A_CRITICAL_APPRAISAL_ON_VARIOUS_SAMSKARA'S_WITH_THEIR_SCIENTIFIC_AND_MEDICAL_IMPORTANCE_IN_PEDIATRIC_AGE_GROUP

5.https://www.swaminarayan.faith/media/3688/sanskar-english.pdf

6.https://www.wjpmr.com/home/article_abstract/2272

7.https://www.speakingtree.in/blog/karnavedha-samskara-or-ear-piercing-health-spiritual-benefits