Ear Piercing in Ayurveda with PDF

Courtesy: Sri.bryan Hill

The great teacher of Ayurveda sushruta has clearly mentioned the technique of Ear Piercing in his text. The ears of children were pierced for protective and ornamental purposes. Ancient authors believed that it would protect children from evil effects. It means the child whose ear has been punctered will not be afflicted by the grahas. If afflicted by grahas, the bad effects will remain for a shorter period. The middle of the ear lobule slightly towards the cheek which is illumined by the sun rays is the ideal site for piercing the ear. The ear should be punctured in the sixth or seventh month from the child's birth and on an auspicious tithi, karaNa, muUrtta, naxatra

and in the shukla paxa of the moon. Equal importance is given for maN^galAcharana and svastivAchanam. After performing all of the above mentioned karmas, the child should be placed in the lap of the nurse. The mind of the child should be diverted by giving him/her toys. Then the  surgeon pulls out the ear by his left hand and slowly pierces straight by his right hand and at the above mentioned site. If the ear lobule is thin then a sharp needle (sUchi) should be used for piercing and if the lobule is thick then an awl (Ara) should be used for piercing. If the child is male then first the right ear should be punctered and if the child is female, then the left ear should be punctered first. A cotton wick (piyuvartti) should then be introduced into the slit.

 

  रक्षाभूषणनिमित्तं बालस्य कर्णौ विध्येते । तौ षष्ठे मसि सप्तमे वा शुक्लपक्षे प्रशस्तेषु तिथिकरणमुहूर्त्तनक्षत्रेषु कृतमङ्गलस्वस्तिवाचनं धात्र्यङ्के कुमारधराङ्केवा कुमारमुपवेश्य बालक्रीडनकैः प्रलोभ्याभिसान्त्वयन् भिषग् वामहस्तेनाकृष्य कर्णं दैवकृते छिद्रे आदित्यकरावभासिते शनैः शनैर्दक्षिणहस्तेन ऋजु विध्येत् । प्रतनुकं सूच्या बहलमारया पूर्वं दक्षिणं कुमारस्य वामं कुमार्याः । ततः पियुवर्त्तिं प्रवेशयेत् ॥

                                    (सुश्रुतसंहिता, सूत्रस्थान १६.३)