"Karnavedha" means "ear-piercing" in Sanskrit.
Karnavedha Samskara is the ninth of sixteen traditional life cycle rites
(samskaras) involving the piercing of an infant's ears.
This ritual was performed for both ornamental and defensive
objectives.
Piercing the ears, according to Sushruta, author of one of
India's earliest medical writings, protected children against certain
illnesses.
Although most young girls nowadays have pierced ears, it is
far less prevalent for guys, indicating that decoration has taken priority over
safety.
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