Kaupinam

The kaupinam, koavanam, kaupina, langot, or lungooty (langoṭī) is a loincloth worn by men in the Indian subcontinent as underclothing. It is still commonly worn in South Asia by pehlwans (wrestlers) while exercising or sparring in a dangal. It is basically a rectangular strip of cloth used to cover the genitals, with strings connected to the four ends of the cloth, for binding it around the waist and between the legs.

The short type of lungooty worn by naga sadhus or baabas often leaves the buttocks bare, it is also known as ''coopees''.^[1]

Use

Painting depicting youth in kaupina harvesting lotus in pond, circa 850 CE.

It is still used extensively by Kalaripayattu (martial artists), bodyguards (ang-rakshaks) and wrestlers (pehelwans) in rural India, especially in games of Malla-yuddha and the medieval variation Pehlwani (a form of sparring from West Asia and South Asia). It is also worn during fitness training & sports coaching (kasrat); by men performing any form of physically straining activity and weight lifting such as farming.

Langot is a male sports gear and undergarment, associated with almost every form of physically straining sports like kushti and kabaddi of Indian traditions. It has been worn by henchmen and sportsmen during practices and sessions, in a similar way to the contemporary use of gym shorts and jock briefs since ancient times. Wrestlers and bodyguards also wear a abdominal guard underneath, to protect and support their genitals.

The kaupinam is a very ancient form of sportswear and was in use since the early Vedic Period (2000–1500 BC), as is evident from a verse in the Sam Veda of Hindu scriptures.^[2] The devotees of the Hindu god Shiva were said to be wearing kaupinam.

Religious significance

Kaupina Panchakam

Kaupina vantah kalu bagya vantah
Vedanta Vakyeshu sada ramayantah
Bikshanna matrena tustimantah
vishokamantah karane charantah
kaupina vantah kalu bagyavantah

Adi Shankara

It has religious significance attached to asceticism for the Hindus. The Bhagavata Purana enjoins that a true ascetic should not wear anything other than a kaupina.^[3] Sometimes the god Shiva himself is depicted wearing Kaupina.^[4] The deities Murugan of Palani and Hanuman are said to be wearing this garment.^[5] Langot or kaupin is associated with celibacy.^[6] Adi Shankara composed a verse called Kaupina Panchakam to assert the significance of asceticism. Famous Maharashtrian sant Samarth Ramdas and Tamil rishi Ramana Maharshi were always depicted wearing a langot in popular pictures.

Langota

Sculpture of athletes in a similar undergarment at the Indian Museum, Calcutta, recovered from the Graeco-Buddhist site of Jamalgarhi in NWFP, present-day Pakistan.

The older Kapinaum form is distinct from the present-day Langota or Langoti which is sewn and covers the buttocks. It was worn as underwear in dangal held at akharas. It is now mainly used by men when exercising and other intense physical games especially wrestling, to prevent hernias and hydrocele.^[7]

The loincloth is about 3" wide and 24" long single piece of cotton cloth. It is first put between the legs and then wrapped around the waist very tightly.

In media

A langot was worn by Mowgli, the main hero of The Jungle Book franchise including the 1942, 1967–1971, 1967), 1994, 2003, 2016, and 2018 films.

References

^ Yule, Sir Henry; Burnell, Arthur Coke (1996). Hobson-Jobson. p. 525. ISBN 9781853263637.
^ Alter, Joseph S. (1992). The wrestler's body: identity and ideology in north India. University of California Press. pp. 305 pages. ISBN 9780520076976.
^ Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 7.13.2 Archived 2013-10-19 at the Wayback Machine, Bhaktivedanta VedaBase
^ Narayana Ayyar, C. V. (1939). Origin and early history of Śaivism in South India. Madras University historical series. Vol. 6. University of Madras. pp. 155, 185.
^ Lutgendorf, Philip (2007). Hanuman's tale: the messages of a divine monkey Oxford scholarship online. Oxford University Press. pp. 434 pages(see:186). ISBN 9780195309225.
^ Abbott, Elizabeth (2001). A history of celibacy. James Clarke & Co. pp. 493 pages. ISBN 9780718830069.
^ Raman Das Mahatyagi (2007). Yatan Yoga: A Natural Guide to Health and Harmony. YATAN Ayurvedics. pp. 33–. ISBN 978-0-9803761-0-4.

External links

How to wear, visual description.
"The Langota". Yatan Holistic Ayurvedic Centre. Retrieved 10 August 2012.

[1] Yule, Sir Henry; Burnell, Arthur Coke (1996). Hobson-Jobson. p. 525. ISBN 9781853263637.

[wrestle-2] Alter, Joseph S. (1992). The wrestler's body: identity and ideology in north India. University of California Press. pp. 305 pages. ISBN 9780520076976.

[3] Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 7.13.2 Archived 2013-10-19 at the Wayback Machine, Bhaktivedanta VedaBase

[shaivism-4] Narayana Ayyar, C. V. (1939). Origin and early history of Śaivism in South India. Madras University historical series. Vol. 6. University of Madras. pp. 155, 185.

[hanuman-5] Lutgendorf, Philip (2007). Hanuman's tale: the messages of a divine monkey Oxford scholarship online. Oxford University Press. pp. 434 pages(see:186). ISBN 9780195309225.

[Celibacy-6] Abbott, Elizabeth (2001). A history of celibacy. James Clarke & Co. pp. 493 pages. ISBN 9780718830069.

[Mahatyagi2007-7] Raman Das Mahatyagi (2007). Yatan Yoga: A Natural Guide to Health and Harmony. YATAN Ayurvedics. pp. 33–. ISBN 978-0-9803761-0-4.

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