Kanphata
Kanphata, from Sanskrit kaṇ (ear) + phata (pierced), refers to a group of Hindu ascetics who are distinguished by ear piercing and the wearing of large earrings or rings. The term is usually used for the Kanphata yogis, a subset of the broader Nath tradition of yogis and renunciants in northern India. Their exact origins are not clearly documented; they are mentioned in medieval and early modern hagiographies and travel writings as part of the diverse landscape of Hindu ascetic orders.
Typical practice includes initiation into a lineage that involves piercing the earlobes—often by peers or traditional
Kanphata yogis function as itinerant teachers and guides within local Hindu communities, and their distinctive ear