Vedic Index of Names and Subjects v1.c3.784

v1.c3.784

The marking of ears was apparently a regular practice. It is twice referred to in the Atharvaveda.⁶ The mark is termed *lakṣman*,⁷ and was made with a copper-knife⁸ (*lohita*). The Maitrāyaṇī Saṃhitā⁹ forbids the use of an arrow-shaft (*tejana*), or of iron, but permits that of a stem of sugar-cane (*ikṣu-kāṇḍa*) or copper.