Jain monuments, such as the massive
statue at Shravanabelgola, still stand.
Karnataka also contains important Hindu
holy places, such as Shrirangapatnamand
Shringeri math. Even though much of the
state’s economy is still highly agricultural,
Karnataka’s capital, Bangalore, is a world-
wide center for computer software devel-
opment. For general information about
Karnataka and other regions of India, see
Christine Nivin et al., India. 8th ed., Lonely
Planet, 1998.
Karnavedha
(“ear-piercing”) Samskara
The ninth of the sixteen traditional life-
cycle ceremonies (samskaras), in which
an infant’s ears were pierced. This rite
was done not only for ornamentation
but also for protective purposes.
According to Sushruta, the author of
one of the oldest Indian medical texts,
piercing the ears protected children
against certain ailments. Although in
modern times most young girls have
pierced ears, this practice is far less
common for boys, suggesting that
ornamentation has taken precedence
over protection.
Karni Mata
Presiding deityof the temple by the
same name in the village of Deshnokin
the state of Rajasthan. Karni Mata is a
local form of the Mother Goddess; her
name refers to the place where an ear
(karni) of the dismembered goddess Sati
fell to earth. The temple is unusual in
that it is inhabited by thousands of rats,
which are considered Karni Mata’s sons.
According to the local tradition, Karni
Mata’s son drowned in a local pond.
When she tried to influence Yama, the
god of death, to give her son a favorable
rebirth, she was told that he had already
been reborn as a rat. At her request,
Yama allowed all of her male descen-
dants to be born as rats in the temple at
Deshnok. Yama agreed that in the next
life the rats would be reborn as family
members of the temple’s servants.
According to this myth, the rats and the
temple priests are all members of one
extended family.Karpatri Maharaj, Swami
A modern-day asceticnoted for the strict-
ness of his ascetic practices. His name
comes from his habit of using his handsKarnavedha (“ear-piercing”) Samskara
Sculptures decorate the Virupaksha Temple in Pattadakal,
one of many historical sites in the state of Karnataka.