Karṇavedha
कर्णवेध
Also written: karnavedha · karṇavedha · karnavedha sanskar · karnavedha ceremony
Karṇavedha (कर्णवेध) is the ninth of the sixteen saṃskāras. Piercing of the ear lobes, for both children.
| Number | 9 of 16 |
| Stage of life | Childhood |
| Performed | Between the sixth month and the fifth year |
| Purpose | Piercing of the ear lobes, for both children. |
What the rite is and why
Performed for boys and girls alike in the classical texts. The right ear is pierced first for a boy, the left for a girl.
Suśruta gives a medical rationale alongside the ritual one and describes the procedure, the point to be chosen, and the care of the wound — evidence that the rite and the surgical text belong to one culture.
The ornament is put in immediately; the ear is treated as a point of protection and of vitality.
Where it stands today
Universal for girls and still common for boys in many communities; usually performed as a family ceremony.
The sixteen Saṃskāras
From before conception to the final fire: the sixteen refinements that mark a human life, what each one actual…
Garbhādhāna
Garbhādhāna — the first saṃskāra, performed before conception. The conscious invitation of a life, rather than…
Puṁsavana
Puṁsavana — the second saṃskāra, performed third or fourth month of pregnancy. Protection and healthy developm…
Sīmantonnayana
Sīmantonnayana — the third saṃskāra, performed sixth to eighth month. The mother's wellbeing, and the child's …
Jātakarma
Jātakarma — the fourth saṃskāra, performed at birth, before the umbilical cord is cut. Welcoming the child, an…
Nāmakaraṇa
Nāmakaraṇa — the fifth saṃskāra, performed eleventh or twelfth day after birth. The giving of the name — an id…
Last revised 2026-08-16. Corrections are welcome — see how this site is written.