Kamaṇḍalu

By Swami Harshananda

Kamaṇḍalu literally means ‘that which brings the essence of water’.

A sanyāsin who has renounced all the possessions is permitted to keep and use few things absolutely essential for living. One of them is the kamaṇḍalu or the water pot. It is usually made of bitter gourd. It is sometimes made from clay also. It has a handle, a lid and a spout. He is expected to carry it along with the pavitra.

References

• The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore