Why Is Cotton Placed In the Nose And Ears After Death? Garuda Purana And Science Reveal The Reason

In Hindu traditions, you must have witnessed that after the death of a person, cotton is placed in the nose and ears. In Hinduism, many rules and practices are performed during the last funeral rites. One such is placing cotton in the nose and ears.

It is believed that plugging cotton in these openings prevents negative energy and doshas from entering the body. However, according to science, after a few hours of death, the body starts releasing fluids and gases.

Let's understand what the Garuda Purana says about this practice.

What Does Garuda Purana Say About It?

In Hindu funeral rites, also called Antyesti, the physical body is viewed as a temporary vessel in which the soul stays. In the Garuda Purana, there is a detailed explanation of the soul’s journey after death, where it also states how a deceased body should be handled.

1. Sealing The Nine Gates

According to the Garuda Purana, the human body has nine primary openings: two eyes, two nostrils, two ears, one mouth, genital, and anal passages. So, when a person dies, the soul (Prana/life force) leaves the body through one of these openings based on the individual's karma and spiritual evolution.

When the soul leaves the body, it becomes an empty vessel. Placing cotton in the nostrils and ears symbolically seals the doors, preventing external energies, doshas, or Raja-Tamas energies from entering the body before the last funeral rites.

2. To Maintain Sanctity

According to Garuda Purana, a deceased body attracts negative energies very quickly. Plugging the ears and nose with cotton prevents the body from becoming a host to these unfavourable frequencies, keeping it pure until it is offered to the Pancha Mahabhutas through cremation.

3. Practical Vedic Hygiene Combined With Ritual

The Garuda Purana frequently blends sanitary logic with spiritual purity. The physical body is seen as the temple for the soul. Keeping it clean and blocking fluid leaks ensures the family and priests performing Pooja or Tarpana do not come into contact with decomposing fluids before the body reaches the cremation grounds. 

According to the Garuda Purana, a deceased body attracts negative energies very quickly (Image: Pexels)

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The Scientific And Medical Explanation

When a person's body becomes lifeless, it undergoes predictable biological phases. Plugging the nose and ears with cotton serves as a barrier to:

1. Prevents Body Fluids (Purge Fluid)

After a few hours of death, the muscles completely relax, and internal pressures rise due to natural bacterial gas production in the gastrointestinal and respiratory tracts. This forces fluids to come out of the body through the oesophagus and nasal passages.

2. Odour Containment And Gas Suppression

When a person dies, bacteria start to break down, which releases sharp odours. Sealing the nose and ears traps these gases temporarily.

3. Insect Infestation Barrier

Flies, especially blowflies, are attracted to moisture and fluids within minutes of death to lay eggs. Cotton acts as a physical shield against flies, ants, and airborne diseases entering open cavities.

Science vs. Scriptural Context (Side-by-Side Comparison)

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What do you think about this tradition?

FAQs

1. What is the primary spiritual reason for placing cotton in the orifices?

Preventing the entry/exit of impurities, maintaining the sanctity of the body, and aiding the soul's peaceful transition are primary reasons for placing cotton in the orifices.

2. Who typically performs these rituals, and what is their role?

Family members, priests, and other community members perform these rituals.