Why Are Deceased Person’s Ears And Nose Covered With Cotton? Internet Responds

Last Updated: November 27, 2023, 12:41 IST

A Quora user asked this question on the online platform.

One of the users said that to prevent the dead body from swelling, it is preferred to cover their nostrils and ears with cotton.

You must have seen a dead body at the funeral with its ears and nose covered with cotton. Do you know the reason behind the same? Is this for religious purposes or is there any scientific theory to back the same? Recently, a Quora user asked the same question on the online platform. People indulge in various question-answer sessions on Quora, and try to spread knowledge to help others. Many of the users responded to this question as well and told why it is important to cover the nose and ears of those who are dead.

One of the users said that after a person is dead, the respiratory system stops working, while the air continues to enter the body through the nose and ears, which may cause swelling. To prevent the body from swelling, it is preferred to cover the nostrils and ear with cotton. The same user also explained another reason and said that the growth of germs increases inside a dead body, which may start spreading to the outer area of the body as well. Therefore, it becomes important to cover the nostrils and ears with cotton to prevent the germs from coming out of the body.

Another user named Tanya Edge noted, “Cotton is stuffed in the nose of a dead person for a few reasons. They are: to prevent fluid from draining out of the nose; respiration has stopped and air will enter the body thru the nasal openings and cause swelling; to prevent any germs from being released by decaying processes that may be taking place to the dead body; and lastly, to provide proper shape if necessary for viewing at a funeral.”

Apart from scientific reasons, the covering of the nose and ears also has a religious purpose. According to the Garun Purana, there is a provision to place small pieces of gold in the exposed parts of the dead body. These gold pieces are kept at nine parts of the body. To prevent these gold pieces from falling at the time when the dead body is taken to the cremation ground, ears and nose are covered. It is believed that these pieces of gold are very sacred, and placing them on the dead body gives peace to the soul.

Why Are Deceased Person’s Ears And Nose Covered With Cotton? Internet Responds - News18 (2024)

One of the users said that to prevent the dead body from swelling, it is preferred to cover their nostrils and ears with cotton.