Ayurvedic Medicine Nose Piercing

This is a Tamilnadu woman with a double nose piercing. (AKA the natt, the bulak and the mookutthi) (Image: Etan Doronne, Wikimedia)

The first thing you probably should know about nose piercing in India is that it’s as widespread and multi-faceted a practice as any other in a country with so many languages and cultures blended together. In Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, jewelry in the nose is worn by both married and unmarried young women, and it’s called mookutthi. In some places it’s part of the marriage ceremony. Gujarati women wear it on the right. Maharashtra women wear it on the left. In Nepal and Rajasthan it’s worn in the septum, and it’s called bulak. In fashionable cities nose-rings are worn for the same reason they’re worn everywhere else: because they’re cute.

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In Indian culture, the Solah Shringar – literally ’16 Decorations’ – of the bride includes the wearing of a nose ring, usually of gold and with pearl decorations, and with a chain passing to the ear across the face. It’s considered part of the devotion to the goddess Lakshmi, who is a model of the perfect wife, and of beauty and fertility. The ritual also includes hair decorations, bracelets, rings and henna drawings on the skin.

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In Megwhal culture, the status of a woman can be determined by the size of her nose ring. (Image: Meena Kadri, Wikimedia)

It’s often said that the nose piercing on the left side comes from ancient Ayurvedic medicine, and that this point, or marma, on the nostril will alleviate pain from childbirth or possibly help with painful menstruation. This belief is often attributed to the works of Shushruta, such as the Sushruta Samhita, an ancient text on medicine. But after hours of research and reading translations, I can say that there’s no mention of this at all in the Sushruta Samhita. The sections often referred to are about venesection, or piercing of veins for bloodletting. While Sushruta says there are smaller points in the body that carry energy, the practice of piercing these areas seems to have developed much later, with the influence of acupuncture. Most of the references to this belief date back to the not very ancient days of 2004, when author Desmond Morris mentioned it in his book, The Naked Woman. From there I followed the trail to Dr. Frank Ros and his book, The Lost Secrets of Ayurvedic Acupuncture, which in turn cites a well known Ayurvedic doctor named Chandrasekhar Thakkur, whose work was popular in the 1960s and quotes from something called the Suchi Veda an ancient text which seems to only be referenced in the works of Dr. Thakkur. In others words, there’s a good chance that the idea of a nostril piercing being related to Ayurvedic medicine dates back to the ancient days of the 1960s.

The most likely origin for the practice, barring a revelation on the Suchi Veda, is that it came from the Muslim world. You may not think of Islam as being huge into nose piercings, but they were a hundred years ago. It’s very common for people in Muslim communities to remember a grandmother or great aunt that wore a large nose ring, and up till the 20th century it was one of the things that Muslim women were known for. Just as today we associate the Hijab with Islam, a hundred years ago if someone mentioned Muslim women, you’d have thought ‘nose ring’. But that’s a subject for another blog.

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How it got from Islam to the Hindus in India has to do with the history of India, and the often intermingled trajectories of Hinduism and Islam in that country.

In his Antiquity of the Hindoo Nose Ornament, which was first published in 1938, goes into great detail on the practice and its origins.

As Gode says, “The Amarakosa of Amarasimha, one of the earliest Sanskrit lexicons composed before the 8th century gives us a list of ornaments… this list makes no mentions of a nose-ornament. This omission is quite significant, and we may be justified in presuming that the nose-ornament was not current in the time of Amarasimha.”

The Ultimate Guide To Nose Rings

In other words, since it wasn’t listed, people probably weren’t getting nose rings in the 8th century in India. He also mentions nose screws in South India, as a “Screw inserted in the side of the nostril, in a hole bored for the purpose.” Ladies wear it in both sides of the nose, and it usually has a precious gem at the tip of the screw. And that’s in 1938, in case you thought they were a new thing.

Spiritual

But on the Muslim origin of the nose-ring in India, Gode mentions another half dozen sources saying they can find no evidence prior to the year 1080, in either painting or statue, showing the nose ring. That’s significant, because the first forays into India by Sabuktigan in the late 900s predate this, and from this point forward, Islamic fashion was a heavy influence on Indian culture.

Also, notably, Gode and his contemporaries make no mention at all of Ayurvedic medicine when talking about the nose-ring in 1938, and since they were renowned experts on Indian history, that strikes me as odd, and pushes me another notch towards saying that’s probably a modern invention. Although, like I said, if I’m wrong send me an email.Nose piercing is a popular practice in many cultures worldwide, and it has been around for centuries. While some people get a nose piercing for fashion or aesthetic reasons, others do it for spiritual or cultural significance. In this article, we will explore the spiritual meaning of nose piercing on the right side.

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In many spiritual and cultural practices, the right side of the body is considered to be the masculine or yang side, while the left side is the feminine or yin side. The right side is associated with strength, logic, and reason, while the left side is associated with intuition, creativity, and emotion.

In many ancient cultures, the right side of the body was considered to be the side of the gods, and it was believed to be more powerful and auspicious than the left side. For example, in Hinduism, the right side of the body is associated with the sun, fire, and the god Shiva, while the left side is associated with the moon, water, and the goddess Shakti.

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Nose piercing on the right side is believed to have many spiritual and cultural meanings. Here are some of the most common:

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In some cultures, nose piercing on the right side is a symbol of marriage. In India, for example, it is traditional for brides to get their nose pierced on the right side before the wedding as a symbol of their commitment to their husband.

In many spiritual practices, nose piercing on the right side is believed to enhance the flow of prana (life force) in the body. The right nostril is associated with the pingala nadi, which is one of the three main energy channels in the body. By piercing the right nostril, it is believed that the flow of prana through the pingala nadi is enhanced, leading to better health, vitality, and spiritual awareness.

In some spiritual traditions, nose piercing on the right side is also believed to improve concentration, memory, and intuition. It is believed that the piercing helps to stimulate the third eye chakra, which is located in the center of the forehead and is associated with spiritual insight and intuition.

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Would I Look Good With A Nose Piercing?

Aside from the spiritual and cultural meanings, nose piercing on the right side is also a fashion statement for many people. It is a way to express one’s individuality and creativity, and to enhance one’s appearance. The right side of the face is considered to be more attractive and symmetrical than the left side, which may be another reason why some people choose to get their nose pierced on the right side.

In addition to the spiritual, cultural, and aesthetic meanings of nose piercing on the right side, there is also a healing significance. In Ayurvedic medicine, the piercing is believed to have therapeutic benefits, especially for women. It is believed to relieve menstrual pain and improve fertility. The piercing is also said to have a calming effect on the nervous system, and it can help to reduce stress and anxiety.

If you are considering getting your nose pierced on the right side, there are some dos and don’ts that you need to be aware of. Firstly, you should make sure that you get your piercing done by a professional who uses sterile equipment and follows hygienic procedures. Secondly, you should avoid touching your piercing with dirty hands or exposing it to dirty environments. You should also avoid wearing tight clothes or jewelry that may cause irritation or infection. Finally, you should follow the aftercare instructions given by your piercer, which may include cleaning the piercing with saline solution and avoiding swimming or other activities that may expose the piercing to bacteria.

The Ultimate Guide: What Side Of My Nose Should I Pierce?

When it comes to nose piercings, there are various types that you can choose from. The most common type

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