Body Piercing and Tattooing the Vedic Way

Ear Piercing

Ear piercing (also known as Karnavedha) is normally done  within fifteen days of the child's birth and before the child completes its first year. It is said that a baby girl who has her ear pierced has a regular menstrual cycle and assists in minimising hysterical attacks and similar nervine ailments. The piercing activates certain acupressure points in the ears and is also said to improve the blood circulation and strengthen immunity. It is said that the ear contains more than two hundred pressure points that influence different areas of the body and the psyche.

We see that traditionally women in India wear different rings and jewellery in various parts of the ear.  This creates pressure that can act as therapy and  provide relief from various ailments that include allergies, anxiety, arthritis, asthma, depression, headaches, hunger, hypertension, pain, panic attacks and weight problems.

 Nose Piercing

Similarly nose piercing is also prevalent since ages - pre ramayana and mahabharatha periods.  Ayurvedic texts like Sushruta Samhita suggest nose piercing minimises the monthly menstrual pain and also takes care of nasal infections. The ancient master knew that networks of nerves ran through the body connecting various body areas.  Many a time simple caressing of nerve networks can positively affect the body systems.

The nasal nerves are associated with the female reproductive organs the reason that the piercing is done on this nostril is to assist easier childbirth and lessen pain during monthly periods.  Both ear and nose piercing are said to even  aid a woman's fertility. Today decoration of the ear and nose (without piercing) have become more beauty accessories  with social celebraties sporting jewellery in their ears and noses.  Generally a woman had her nose pierced before her wedding.

Toe Rings

This scribe feels it is appropriate to say something about the toe rings that the Indian woman wears once married. The toe rings are said to press certain sensitive points of the toe that aid in keeping the reproductive system of the woman healthy. The Science of Ayurveda tells us that the nerve on the second finger of the foot relates to a woman's uterus. A slight constant pressure on this nerve is known to regulate ( the monthly menstrual cycle ensuring a healthy uterus. Worn on the third finger of the foot (specially young unmarried women) is said to give relief from the monthly menstrual period pain.

 

The accupressure points on the foot connecting to the woman's reproductive system  get activated constantly and assist in  eliminating or minimising labour pain and assist in healthy delivery of the child.

Tattoos

Tatooing too was prevalent in ancient India, China, Egypt, Phillipines, Europe, Persia, Indonesia, Japan and the middle east. Certain cultures tatooed their youngsters when they attained puberty. Men and women both had their different body parts tatooed.  The Western world too had their share of tatoos. Tattooing was much among the upper classes in Europe and particularly in Britain It is said that Sir Winston Churchill's mother, Lady Randolph Churchill, had a tattoo of a snake around her wrist, which she covered when the need arose with a specially crafted diamond bracelet. Carrying on the family tradition, Winston Churchill too is said to have had an anchor tattooed on his forearm.

Today, for the younger generation (of India and other parts of the world that include USA and Europe)  having tattoos on their body parts has become a fashion statement.  They have different tatoos on different parts of the body, some being tradional tattoos and some being just cosmetic.  Professional artists with refined equipment and colored pigments have begun to find a boom in their business. This is now a craze. Do we stop our youngsters from tatooing or do we give them advice on where/where not to tattoo and what symbols are appropriate to their birth constellations based on knowledge gathered from ancient texts?  If your child is (or you are) insistent to have a tatoo "to go with the times" the table below will be helpful.  Astro appropriate colors are recommended.

Where Tatoos are Forbidden

Eyebrows, Middle of the brows, Eyelids, Face, Shoulders, Sides, Armpits. Wrists, Stomach, Knees, Ankles, Buttocks, Heels, Feet and their fingers.

Where Tatoos are Allowed

Nose, Temples, Lower Part of Chin, Forehead, Sides of the Jaw-Bone, Neck, Ears, Chest, Back, Arms, Hands, Fingers, Navel, Thighs, Big Toe.

Nakshatras and Animal Symbols

Ashwini	Shatabhisha	Horse
Bharani	Revati	Elephant
Pushya	Krittika	Sheep
Rohini	Mrigasira	Serpent
Moola	Aridra	Dog
Aslesha	Punarvasu	Cat
Magha	Poorvaphalguni	Rat
Uttaraphalguni	Uttarabhadra	Cow
Swati	Hasta	Buffalo
Visakha	Chitra	Tiger
Jyeshta	Anuradha	Hare
Poorvashada	Sravana	Monkey
Poorvabhadra	Dhanishta	Lion
Uttarashada	-----	Mongoose

 

In India, tatooing and body piercing has been in vogue since centuries and done for wearing jewellery.  Texts like Dharma Sindhu too are said to contain references to ear and nose piercing. Ear and nose piercing has been used as a method of displaying body jewellery for many years in different cultures. This practice has been prevalent in other parts of the world also and references are found of piercing in Russia and China as early as 300 BC. It is said mummified bodies have been found in other regions too. Particularly in South of India, ear piercing and nose piercing have been very prevalent. 

.  Sarve Janah Sukhino Bhavantu /