Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 56
कर्णोपवीत्युदग्वक्त्रो दिवसे संध्ययोरपि । विण्मूत्रे विसृजेन्मौनी निशायां दक्षिणामुखः
karṇopavītyudagvaktro divase saṃdhyayorapi | viṇmūtre visṛjenmaunī niśāyāṃ dakṣiṇāmukhaḥ
In the daytime—and even at the two twilight junctions (sandhyās)—one should wear the sacred thread in the ‘over-the-ear’ manner and face north; observing silence, one should discharge feces and urine. At night, one should face south.
Skanda
Scene: A brāhmaṇa-pilgrim with sacred thread looped over the ear (karṇopavīta), finger to lips in silence, oriented north under daylight; a second vignette shows him at night facing south under moonlight.
FAQs
Even unavoidable bodily acts are to be done with restraint, silence, and directional discipline, preserving ritual mindfulness.
No particular tīrtha is named; the guidance is part of Kāśīkhaṇḍa’s purity discipline for sacred life.
By day (including dawn/dusk): karṇopavītī and facing north; at night: facing south; observe silence during evacuation.
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