Once in 12 years, The Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 in Prayagraj has started and has drawn millions of devotees to the sacred confluence of Yamuna, the mythical Saraswati, and Ganga. Among all others present there, the female Naga Sadhus or Naga Sadhvis stand out for traditional practices and unspiritual devotion. The Maha Kumbh is happening after 12 years and the Hindu calendar and positions of the planet determine the date.
Embracing renunciation
Female Naga Sadhus have dedicated their lives to meditation, yoga, and other spiritual practices with a profound commitment to their faith. They have kept the Hinduism alive in their lives and they have given up all the materialistic world to be connected to the culture.
They are considered as the esteemed members of Hindu dharam, and given all their life in the devotion of Lord Shiva.
Rigorous Initiate Process
It’s not easy to become the Female Naga Sadhvi, not everyone can become the sadhvis. The path to becoming a Female Naga Sadhvi requires a strict process that includes years and years of meditation and unbound yourself from the outer world, and all materialistic life. In order to join their journey, the major ritual they have to perform at the beginning is the “Pind Daan” of their own and a complete surrender to the divine. “Pind Daan” (this is a ritual which is generally performed traditionally for the deceased in the family).
Different Clothing and Practices
Unlike the male Sadhus, they never go unlocked and wear a saffron fabric which is unstitched and often known as “Ghanti” which gives them a unique look entirely and a majority of them are bald-headed. They also wear different types of tilaks every day to distinguish themselves from others.
Some of them maintain matted dreadlocks and follow a routine in a discipline that includes early morning river baths and then followed by the worship of Lord Shiva and Lord Dattatreya and meditation.
Female Naga Sadhu Empowerment
Female Naga Sadhus appear as the female empowerment showing strength and spiritual freedom among the others, but there are concerning factors under which it is unveiled that they have also faced backlash, difficulties, and prejudice because of their gender.
Battling every fight themselves, Female Naga Sadhu tends to follow the path of Lord Shiva and live in the caves and near the rivers or jungles. Only because of leaving the worldly things they are able to devote themselves fully to the Spiritual path.
Their immense presence and participation
The Female Naga Sadhus have immensely increased in number over time and it shows the difference of how the females have been adapting in this male-dominated world and how far they have come. The Female Naga Sadhus are also referred to as “Naga Sadhvis”.
The Female naga Sadhu’s presence brings more motivation to the other females as following this path is not easy for everyone. The ones who follow this path are much closer to spiritual development. They are often referred to as “Mata” in some areas and are given the same respect.