Bhakti and Bodhi: Gender, Devotion, and Knowledge in Indian Mystic Poetry

Abstract

The article present critically examines the dynamic intersection of gender, spiritual devotion, and indigenous epistemologies within Indian mystical traditions. Through an analysis of the works of key mystic poets such as Kabir, Mirabai, Akka Mahadevi, Lalla, and the women poets of the Therigatha, it explores how mystic poetry operates as both a literary and philosophical repository of decolonial and feminist consciousness. Writing across varied linguistic and cultural contexts, these poets engaged the interwoven concepts of Bhakti (devotion) and Bodhi (awakening) to articulate intensely personal spiritual experiences that simultaneously subvert hegemonic structures of caste, patriarchy, and religious orthodoxy. The article foregrounds the body—frequently sidelined in conventional religious discourse—as a site of epistemological and spiritual transformation, and through close readings supported by critical theory, illustrates how mystical expression becomes a mode of embodied resistance. In this framework, devotion emerges not as passive submission but as a radical epistemic position that redefines subjectivity and agency. By situating Indian mystic poetry within broader discourses on feminist theology, subaltern voices, and indigenous knowledge systems, the study underscores the enduring relevance of these traditions as counter-hegemonic cultural practices. Ultimately, the article affirms that Indian mystic poetry represents a confluence of gendered embodiment, spiritual longing, and alternative knowledge formations, offering a rich, transformative archive that continues to challenge dominant paradigms and inform contemporary critical thought.