Undressing for God: The Symbolism of Naked Devotion in Mysticism

Shivoham Path
Aug 26, 2025
3 min read

Introduction: Why Do Some Saints Renounce Clothing?

Across spiritual traditions, the image of a naked ascetic often evokes shock, awe, or deep reverence. But what does nudity truly represent in the path of devotion?

In Hinduism, Jainism, and even Sufi mysticism, nakedness is not about sensuality – it is about surrender, renunciation, and absolute oneness with the Divine. Saints like Akka Mahadevi, Lalleshwari (Lalla), and Digambara monks discarded clothing not as an act of rebellion, but as a symbol of transcending the material world.

This article explores:

Why some mystics renounced clothing in devotion to God.
The spiritual and symbolic meaning behind nakedness.
How nudity is perceived in different spiritual traditions.

Akka Mahadevi: The Naked Bride of Shiva

Who Was Akka Mahadevi?

Akka Mahadevi was a 12th-century Bhakti saint from Karnataka, deeply devoted to Lord Shiva. She was known for her radical renunciation – walking through forests, unclothed, covered only by her long hair.

Her journey was not one of rebellion, but of absolute surrender. She considered herself already wedded to Shiva, calling him Chennamallikarjuna (The Lord of Pure Jasmine).

Why Did She Discard Clothes?

Clothing represents attachment, ego, and societal conditioning. She shed them as an act of renouncing all worldly ties.
She saw her body as belonging to Shiva alone, not the world. To her, covering herself was irrelevant – she was already “clothed” in Shiva’s love.
She believed the body itself is temporary, only the soul is eternal.

Akka Mahadevi’s Words on Nudity:

“For the one who has merged with Shiva, what need is there for shame? When the whole world is drenched in his form, what clothes can I wear?”

Her nudity was her declaration:

“I am not of this world; I belong only to Shiva.”

Lalleshwari (Lalla): The Kashmiri Yogini Who Walked Bare

Who Was Lalleshwari?

Lalleshwari, also known as Lalla or Lal Ded, was a 14th-century Kashmiri mystic and poet who rejected societal norms to walk the path of divine realization.

Her Renunciation of Clothes

Married young into a rigid household, she found no connection to material life.
Her devotion to Shiva deepened, leading her to discard all external bindings – including clothing.
She wandered naked, singing songs of devotion, lost in divine ecstasy.

Lalla’s Words on Naked Devotion:

“I burnt my own house down, the torch is in my hand! Now I roam naked, free of all illusions.”

Her nakedness was a metaphor: She burned down the house of ego, desires, and false identity – leaving only her pure soul exposed.

The Symbolism of Nakedness in Mysticism

The act of undressing before God is found in many spiritual traditions. It represents:

Total Surrender: Giving up the last layer of identity and ego.
Freedom from Material Attachments: Letting go of worldly shame, honor, and conditioning.
Merging with the Divine: Becoming one with the universe, no longer separate.

In Tantra, nudity also symbolizes purity, raw energy, and the unconditioned state of consciousness.

The Digambara Tradition: Naked Ascetics in Jainism & Shaivism

What Does “Digambara” Mean?

“Digambara” means “Clothed in the Sky.”
This is a term for Jain monks and certain Shaiva ascetics who renounce clothing completely.

Why Do They Stay Naked?

They believe clothing is a worldly attachment – even the desire for modesty is an attachment.
It symbolizes absolute renunciation – owning nothing, needing nothing.
They see the body as just a vessel – true reality is beyond it.

For Digambara monks, nudity is the highest form of detachment.

Nakedness vs. Social Morality: Why Do We Misunderstand It?

Modern society often associates nudity with sensuality or impropriety, but in mysticism, it has a completely different meaning.

For the saints, nakedness was not an act of rebellion, but of union.
They did not seek attention but dissolved identity itself.
Their state was beyond the mind, beyond shame, beyond the duality of modesty and immodesty.

When the entire universe is divine, what is left to cover?

Final Thoughts: The Ultimate Surrender

Undressing for God is not about the body – it is about dropping all false identities.
Akka Mahadevi, Lalla, and Digambara monks did not seek approval or validation.
They chose divine madness over societal norms, love over shame, and truth over illusion.
Nudity in devotion is not about exposure – it is about transcendence.
It is a statement: “I belong only to the Divine.”
And in that surrender, they found absolute freedom.