The methods of tying Kaupina/ Langot

[Niranjan Ni]

Dear List members:

In traditional circles it is well recognised in tradition that Pehelwans who practice Kushti and Yogis like Samartha Ramdas and the Nath Sampradaya Gurus adviced wearing Langot or a Kaupina that apart from protecting the lower back and the testicles, also helped in preserving brahmacharya.

It has come to my attention through interaction with pehelwans and yogis that the there are atleast 2 different form of the langot. 

1. As a Triangular piece of cotton ending in a long rectangular tail

2. A long piece of rectangular cloth

While 1. is more commonly used in modern akharas, the rectangular cloth was tied tightly around the waist more in the style of a kaccha thereby binding the lower lumbar back (L5-L1) and the hernia more securely than 1. which just binds these in 1 layer of protection.

Are there any learned members who can throw a broad and deep light on how the Langot was tradiitonally worn for different purposes? i.e the different ways of tying the Langot/ Kaupina?

It would be interesting that Shri Adi Shankara Bhagavatpada has even written a poem on the kaupina / langot which is a required cloth worn by Sanyasis. 

 

Thanks,

Niranjan

[Niranjan Ni]

Dear Members,

Just to clarify:

It is well documented that both Brahmacharis and Sanyasis are to compulsorily use 

LANGOT / LANGOTA / KAUPINA for maintaining brahmacharya and practice of Yoga .

There are different ways of binding a langota

1. Triangle shaped cloth as shown here:- 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6jL-eZtKCI

The above is mostly used in akharas for Kushti

2. There is another type which involves a long cotton cloth as shown here:-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-7aoPh5VJc

I am looking for some clarification about the second method.

Regards,

[V Subrahmanian]

On Tue, Aug 7, 2018 at 2:52 PM Niranjan Ni <niranj...@gmail.com> wrote:

Dear Members,

Just to clarify:

It is well documented that both Brahmacharis and Sanyasis are to compulsorily use 

LANGOT / LANGOTA / KAUPINA for maintaining brahmacharya and practice of Yoga .

The common langoti/kaupina worn by brahmacharins and sannyasins who are not into wrestling or related martial arts, involves just a kaTi sUtram, a thick thread that is readily available, that is permanently tied round the waist. The kaupina, generally a white cotton cloth of about two feet length and six inches width, is inserted in between the kaTi sutram and the point of the navel so as to make a two-layer hanging of the koupina cloth. Then both the layers are taken back in between the thighs to be secured in the kaTi sutra that is touching the spinal cord on the back waist.  It is a very simple process unlike the somewhat complicated time consuming method of the ones demonstrated in the videos. And the kaupina is worn not on any undergarment; it directly touches the private parts. It is almost like the one in the picture here:

http://www.kamat.com/kalranga/attire/kaupina.htm     The cloth itself is not as large as the one in the picture. 

Hope this helps.

regards

subrahmanian.v    

There are different ways of binding a langota

1. Triangle shaped cloth as shown here:- 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6jL-eZtKCI

The above is mostly used in akharas for Kushti

2. There is another type which involves a long cotton cloth as shown here:-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-7aoPh5VJc

I am looking for some clarification about the second method.

Regards,

options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.

[Niranjan Ni]

I understand that. For obvious reasons the video showed the kaupina being worn on top of the undergarment.

Traditionally in wrestling and Yoga it is essential to protect the lower back S1-L1 and protect from hernia. Also it protects the scrotum and acts as a form of pasha preventing the formation of sukra / semen by binding the knot to a marma. The sukra by this method is apparently rerouted back to the higher centers and the brain as prana thereby reducing the likelihood of wastage.