Kamandalu

A water pot traditionally used by
ascetics, usually having a removable lid
for ease in filling and a spout for pouring. Kamandalus may be made from
various materials, such as gourds, wood,
metal, or baked clay. They are generally
wider than they are tall, making them
stable and less likely to tip over. In
India’s climate, water is an obvious
necessity. Even ascetics with very few
possessions will generally have some
means to carry and store it. Aside from
satisfying their physical needs, water is
an important element in ascetic religious life, since it is often an offering
used in worship as well as the preferred
medium for bathing (snana) and other
rites of purification. This religious
importance makes the kamandalu a
powerful object in its own right. A
kamandalu is considered especially significant when it has been used for years
by a noted ascetic—objects kept in close
proximity to such a person are believed
to be charged with their spiritual power.
In modern times, kamandalus are still
important ritual objects, but their practical function has largely been replaced
by screw-top plastic vessels.