The science behind piercing a baby's ears
Indians
are obsessed about jewellery. Even a new born child will have his/ her own
trinket box. From a taviz, a waistband and a pair of anklets to even earrings
and bangles, there is a range in baby jewellery too. But they do not wear them
for nothing. Every jewel is conceived keeping in mind the child’s health
prospects. Onlookers may sometime feel horrified at the thought of how on Earth
someone can pierce a baby’s ears, but don’t we take them for vaccinations!
Similarly, ear piercing too is one such painful experience that will go a long
way in ensuring your baby’s well-being.
Karna Vedha Sanskar
Out of the 16 Sanskaars of the Hindu dharma, Karna Vedha Sanskar that involves ear piercing is held on 10th, 12th or 16th day after the birth of the baby or in the odd years of the child like 3rd or 7th years. In some cultures, this ceremony is called Chhedan and is conducted in the first half of the day, followed by a feast. While performing the rituals, the child is made to sit on the father’s lap and face the east. The priests usually chant holy mantras in the child’s ears before the actual piercing is done and once the piercing is done, a thin wire is inserted in the holes to prevent them from closing. The right ear of the boy child is bored first and when it comes to a girl, the left ear.
Out of the 16 Sanskaars of the Hindu dharma, Karna Vedha Sanskar that involves ear piercing is held on 10th, 12th or 16th day after the birth of the baby or in the odd years of the child like 3rd or 7th years. In some cultures, this ceremony is called Chhedan and is conducted in the first half of the day, followed by a feast. While performing the rituals, the child is made to sit on the father’s lap and face the east. The priests usually chant holy mantras in the child’s ears before the actual piercing is done and once the piercing is done, a thin wire is inserted in the holes to prevent them from closing. The right ear of the boy child is bored first and when it comes to a girl, the left ear.
Susruta,
the great Indian surgeon, advocates that ear-piercing prevents diseases like
hernia, hydrocele and hysteria while in girls, it regulates the menstrual cycle
and overall, earrings maintain the flow of current in the human body. It is
also believed that when the goldsmith bores the gold pin and curls it into a
ring, the baby gets the first physical shock. As a result of the shock s/he
receives when the tender lobes of the ears are pierced, the child develops resistance
to nervous diseases like epilepsy. While it is said that piercing pains less when
the child is still a baby, it helps ward off evil too. Even the acupuncturists
suggest that the ear lobe is a vital acupuncture point and that piercing
may have a therapeutic value.
No matter which school of thought you come from or at what age do you prefer to go in for the procedure, make sure it is done in hygienic conditions. You have the option of getting the procedure done at a family jeweller’s shop, a body piercing parlour or a doctor’s clinic. There you can choose either the old-fashioned needle piercing method or go in for ear piercing guns. Note that, the needle method is much like getting an injection while the piercing gun will feel like a stapler going through the skin. Wherever you go, whichever method you choose, just be sure that the equipment is thoroughly sterilised. Earrings? Preferably use a neem twig as it helps in healing the wound faster. Or else a gold or steel wire will do as long as they are nickel-free.
Author: Deepa Mishra
Disclaimer: All images used in the blog have been sourced from Google purely for the purpose of informative reference. The models, celebrities or products showcased in these pictures are not to promote any brand in any manner.
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