Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Konakam

Konakam - the Classic male underwear.
This is the  'iconic' male under-garment. The smallest and the simplest garment in this world ! (excluding, may be, your handkerchief ! )
This simpleton is not that simple. It is a very powerful one, in many aspects. It does what a modern day brief doesn't do.  I shall come with more on this later.  Please also find the "How to wear" post in this blog.
There area a few good pictures, focusing konakams, in a group on this, at Yahoo groups. Search with the above name in Groups.


46 comments:

sparker said...

Habit of wearing konakam is fanastic.I am a habitual user.

Anonymous said...

I am also a regular wearer of konakam ( komanam ) for the last 3 years. I find it very comfortable and useful. It is more convenient than the readymade inner-wear.

Iam in Mumbai.

Unknown said...

I am a regular wearer of konakam from my chilhood and I enjoy wearing konakam.

Anonymous said...

Previously in temple ponds number of young mens with konakams can be seen. Now it is totally vanished like onnaramundu. I would like to see young men in konakams... Please post more konakam wearers posts

Anonymous said...

Excellent comment. All are complaining about vanishing of girls onnaramundu. Onnara is still using by some ladies and girls while entering in temples. But Konakams are not at all using by males. Very few poojaries are using it while entering in sreekovil. But onnaramundu is still common in middle kerala, and it is compulsory for girls while entering in Sarpakavu for conducting poojas. I suggest that konakams should be compulsory for mens while entering in temples.

Anonymous said...

i also agree with the above comment, it should be made compulsory to wear konakam while entering inside temple.At least in kerala alone anyhow males are suppose to remove and it must be a mandatory one aswell.

Anonymous said...

I wear konakam regularly and feel very comfortable wearing the same. In fact I enjoy wearing it.I feel that we all need to promote and increase the awareness of wearing konakam and its comfort level.

SIVA said...

I would like to know how many members are regularly wearing komanam. If anybody wish to share their views with me, they can do so on my mail ID.

siva171@live.com

Saju said...

I don't know, how to wear konakam. So please inform me. 9562816529 (saju trivandrum)

Saju said...

I dont know how to wear konakam. So, please inform me 9562816529

sharanya, kochi said...

I dont know how to wear konakam, so please give me some details (sharanyass@ymail.com)

Anonymous said...

its our traditional innerwear and I think it is found that konakam is medically fit to men. it reduces piles and such other diseases

BEAUTIFUL said...

i used to wear it from the age of 15 and using it at the age of 49 at home .for this take a string of length 125cm and a cloth of 15 cm width and one metre lenth leaving 15 cm inthe string and stitch the cloth in the string it is over tie the string around ur waist such that cloth come infront of u then tie it b/w ur legs to back side

neelakuyil1 said...

I am a strong advocate for the use of konakam and langot. They ar both simple in appearance and utility. All male worshippers must be allowed to enter any temple wearing only kaupinam/konakam. In kerala when I was young my mother like other ladies used to to temples almost topless with a katchamundu held in the unshaven underarms precariously. Then another Maharaja changed the system.

Anonymous said...

I am from north kerala where I use komanam as undergarment during worships. But the habit is almost faded in our village. I am 30yrs old and use komanam made up of soft mull cotton. During worships I wear only wet komanam and towel. I am pround that I have full support from family members so still contnueing with the tradition.

Anonymous said...

No doubt komanam is the best innerwear and very comfortable also. Every one who wear komanam should proudly admit that and share their experience, which will encourage others to start wearing komanam. I am a 38 years old college lecturer and I started wearing komanam. VN

Anonymous said...

I used to wear konakam from the age of 26 and still using it at 34. Earlier my parents and family members make fun of me. When i write an article" kaupeena mahatmyam" discussing the advantages all are excited. I think we have to think seriously about it costs nothing. It requires only a string to tie around our waist and apiece of cloth 25- 30cm long to tie between our leg so as to cover our genital part. If all will be aware of it and make use of this we can save lot and live healthy. By VIJAY TVM

Anonymous said...

konakam is very good form of inner garment,Iam 21 and i wear it usually.but i didn't like some comments like only males wearing kaupeenam will be allowed into temples and no other garments will be allowed.that is not good as it will ruin our culture by exposing our body especially the BUTT

Anonymous said...

It requires only a piece of string to tie around our waist and a piece of cloth 25-30cm long width and 1m long. Thats why its the most economical under wear and is the best for men and women i am wearing it with proud SAJI TVM

Anonymous said...

Wearing konakam is very comfortable to males body as well

Anonymous said...

Wearing konakam is very comfortable to males body. But its stitching is not known to everybody. I suggest some body to give a diagram with its measurements

Anonymous said...

I started wearing konakam at the age of 8 and still continuing at forty five.It is a nice attire and safer, cheaper and user freindly.The habit of me wearing konakam came from from my grand parents,which for me is a good start for my life.

Anonymous said...

My name is Aravind. My native is chennai. I'm also a regular wearer of komanam for the past 2 years. People who want can mail me this id praveenchander70@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

Wearing konakam is more comfortable than any other inner wear,having the habit of wearing konakam from child hood days i cannot switch over to any mordern stuff.

Anonymous said...

Dear Friends,

Nice to see your comments.any genuine komanam wearers to share their experience in yahoo online with me and also to teach me can take my yahoo chat id : friend_truth18@yahoo.com.

Verymuch interested to share my experience and hear from genuine komanam wearers only

Anonymous said...

genuine interested friends for komanam thirst can add me friend_truth18@yahoo.com for a good chat and talk and seeing each other in komanam. good genuine people are welcome

Anonymous said...

it not fantastic as said by people but it has some advantages and disadvatages . at hot season it is very comfortable. another case after a long day work, when we come at home, after changing dress we are not in a mood to wear a fresh underwear at that time this become very useful. if u wear some thing like konakam it will enhance ur confidance,u can work at ease ie stepping to a table ,ladder etc, thus activity increases (at the same time u may get shy ) if u think it is nothing but a piece of cloth b/w ur legs as underwear then no problem, these are my personal opinion

Anonymous said...

I have noted that many people prefer white cotton mull cloth as konakam. I used many type of cotton clothes as konakam. I have a suggestion if we can use our wife's cotton saree as konakam and give her our cotton kaily or lunkie as an exchange our life will be sweeter. So many people prefer stitched konakam because we want ready mades. Konakam is not ready made, but it can be readily made for any one in any time... any where and who can't make it in no time? It is easily washable and driable. If we ignore our shyness, we can make a difference... live happily and healthily. So throuh away all your under wears and proud to BE A KONAKAM WEARER. PRESERVE IT AS THIS IS OUR TRADITIONAL INNES WEAR...A ROYAL INNER WEAR
SAJI TVM

Anonymous said...

In my opinion one of the best cotton cloth for konakam is the one that is being used for making lady's pavadai. Its not so nice and not so hard. So it will will fit to you well. But nowadays pavadai cloth is not available in shops because we are using readymade pavadai.If we ask our merchant for pavadai cloth, that stiff one not sonice and hard, they wil bring that cloth for us so that we can stitch pavadai and make konakam and stop using readymades.
SAJI TVM

Anonymous said...

Why we are paying for jetties or other under wears as we are all capable of making our konakam with in no time. THINK.....THIS IDEA MAY CHANGE YOUR LIFE IN MANY WAYS. So Be a KONAKA DHARI AND MAKE YOUR LIFE A DIFFERENCE
SAJI TVM

Anonymous said...

I had posted this in sept8th. Since then no one commented. If any body accepts or against my opinion pls post your comments so that i may feel that some body is still reading this page. So pls see this and promote our traditional under wear! WHY WE ARE PAYING FOR OTHER INNER WEARS IF WE CAN MAKE KONAKAM OF OUR OWN? THINK! BECAUSE THIS IDEA MAY BRING A NEW DIMENSION TO YOUR LIFE.
SAJI TVM

Anonymous said...

Take one cotton cloth (1.10 to 1.25 long and 25 to 30 cm wide ) and a piece of string. Just tie the string around your waist. Now starting from the front tie the cotton cloth through your genital part to the back side and from the back to the front only to cover your genitals

Anonymous said...

Pls visit www.brahmacharya.in and see the video how to wear kaupina and start to wear it from today onwards

Anonymous said...

EVERY ONE SHOULD USE KONAKAM BECAUSE IT IS
1. EASY TO MADE
2. EASY TO USE
3. EASY TO MAINTAIN
4. EASY TO WASH AND DRY
IT CAN BE MADE
BY ANY ONE
IN ANY TIME
ANY WHERE
WITH IN NO TIME
SAJI TVM

Anonymous said...

Hi,i am kannan am male un married i am using komanam from 12 yrs old. now i am 24 yrs old.
i am very happy to wear komanam daily,. while
i am going to office also i wear only white kaupina
i am using cloths for komanam is old dothi cloth, cotton saree cloth, women's ulpavadai (in skirt) cloth, i prefer only cotton cloths for komanam because its very good to wear. living in chennai working with private company. my home town is tirunelveli district tamil nadu..

Anonymous said...


GOOD NEWS KONAKA PREMIS:
GOVT HAS INCREASED CLOTHES RATES AND TAXES. WE ARE NOT AFFECTING BECAUSE WE ARE MAKING OUR OWN KAUPINAS. SO BE ALERT KONAKA VIRODHIS| STOP A WHILE THINK DIFFERENTLY AND USE KAUPINA FROM TODAY ONWARDS. SPREAD THE NEWS. AND BE HAPPY TO WEAR KONAKAM. IF IT IS SHAME TO FOLLOW OLD TRADITION WHICH IS GOOD FOR YOUR HEALTH ALSO, THAT MEANS YOU ARE TRYING TO INVENT A NEW WHEEL
SAJI TVM

Anonymous said...


GOOD NEWS KONAKA PREMIS:
GOVT HAS INCREASED CLOTHES RATES AND TAXES. WE ARE NOT AFFECTING BECAUSE WE ARE MAKING OUR OWN KAUPINAS. SO BE ALERT KONAKA VIRODHIS| STOP A WHILE THINK DIFFERENTLY AND USE KAUPINA FROM TODAY ONWARDS. SPREAD THE NEWS. AND BE HAPPY TO WEAR KONAKAM. IF IT IS SHAME TO FOLLOW OLD TRADITION WHICH IS GOOD FOR YOUR HEALTH ALSO, THAT MEANS YOU ARE TRYING TO INVENT A NEW WHEEL

SAJI TVM

Anonymous said...

Which Indian act punish wearing only kaupina in public places like park, gym, shops and terrace

Anonymous said...

In our area women also use konakam very secretly . Women over the age of 65 use konakam regularly. Young women also use konakam in their menses time . They use it in three or five layers . Each day they change konakam , because it is made out of cleen old clothes . It is very hygenic .

SAJI TVM said...

വന്തമായി തയ്യാറാക്കാനാക്കാനാകുന്ന കൗപീനം ഉള്ളപ്പോള്‍ എന്തിന് അടി വസ്ത്രത്തിനായി നാം പണം ചെലവാക്കണം?
ആര്‍ക്കും എളുപ്പത്തില്‍ ഉണ്ടാക്കാവുന്ന
എളുപ്പത്തില്‍ നനയ്ക്കാവുന്ന
എളുപ്പത്തില്‍ ഉണക്കാവുന്ന
ആരോഗ്യ ദായകമായ
ആദായകരമായ
അടി വസ്ത്രമാണ്
കോണകം

ഒന്നു ചിന്തിച്ചാല്‍
ഒരു പക്ഷേ ഈ ആശയം
നിങ്ങളുടെ ജീവിതത്തെ മാറ്റി മറിച്ചു എന്നു വന്നേക്കാം
പ്രാവര്‍ത്തികമാക്കാന്‍ കഴിഞ്ഞാല്‍

Anonymous said...

Hi. I thought I am only one using konakam. But now I knew that few people are using. I started using konakam at 14 years old an now I am 34.

Anonymous said...

Hi Shaji. I used to wear Konakam few years before. But now I am in Canada so it is not comfortable for me. Still I like to wear Konakam. I am appreciating all the people they are using Konakam. If you have any group of Konakam users let me know. All the best.

Anonymous said...

is there redy made kaupina available if can you tell me from which shop it available???

SAJI TVM said...

Take one cotton cloth (1.10 to 1.25 long and 25 to 30 cm wide ) and a piece of string. Just tie the string around your waist. Now starting from the front tie the cotton cloth through your genital part to the back side and from the back to the front only to cover your genitals. Demonstrating videos are available in you tube also or you can vusit my blog also KAUPEENA MAHATMYAM"

ni said...

I'm 21 I use konakam but at night its getting wet what to do? and y cant we start a WhatsApp group

Unknown said...

Konakam nammukku comfort akumo...