Kaupinam

The kaupinam, kovanam, kaupina, langot, or lungoti is a loincloth worn by men in the Indian subcontinent as underclothing.

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.

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.

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.

Famous Maharashtrian sant Samarth Ramdas and Tamil rishi Ramana Maharshi were always depicted wearing a langot in popular pictures.

A pehlwan sports a langoti at an akhara
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.