Hindism and thongs

[Torchwatch]

"A kaupînam is a simple strip of cloth passed between the legs and held by a string at the waist. The word is derived from kûpa= "genitals".

From Sanskrit literature we can tell that for a man to have nothing to wear but a sole kaupînam marked the extreme state of poverty. See the story of Nala in the Mahâbharatam, and Dandin's Dasakumaracaritam. The kaupînam still is the sole garment of an ascetic, who chooses poverty voluntarily. Thus, wearing nothing but a kaupînam is not at all in itself shameful, and indeed, the kaupînam and nakedness is strongly associated with holiness---and with sexual potency, which asceticism increases. The only thing Shiva wears is a kaupînam,in Shiva Puranam."

The garment name is komanam, some Indians still wear it in preference to modern Western underwear. There seems more tolerance among Hindus of the male body dressed in brief swimwear that perhaps among the Christian Puritans.