gymnosophist

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A person in ancient India who lives simply and often without clothes for religious reasons

noun
/ˌdʒɪmˈnɒsəfɪst/

NSFW

: gimnosofista

The Greek philosophers were fascinated by the practices of the gymnosophist sages of India.

Examples

Ancient texts occasionally mention travelers who sought wisdom from a gymnosophist on the banks of the Ganges.
The ancient gymnosophist taught the importance of self-discipline.
A gymnosophist lived a life of self-denial, often rejecting clothing and material possessions.
Many gymnosophists believed in the power of nature.
The ancient gymnosophists dedicated their lives to spiritual meditation and ascetic practices.
In Indian history, the gymnosophists were known for their nudity, which symbolized their rejection of materialism.
Many legends describe the gymnosophists as wise sages who wandered the forests, teaching philosophy without the distractions of clothing.

Surface Forms

gymnosophist singular

gymnosophists plural

Morphology

gymnosophist = sophist (opaque) = gymno + sophist

The combining form 'gymno-' (meaning 'naked') and the historical sense 'sophist' are not familiar or productive for average learners, and the term refers to a specific ancient sect rather than a readily derivable modern compound.

Etymology

Gymnosophist comes from Greek parts gymnos 'naked' and sophist 'wise person'. You can remember gymnos because it is the same start as gym, the place for exercise in ancient Greece where people often trained without clothes. The word was used for Indian sages who practiced nudity and strict self-discipline, so it literally means a 'naked wise person' and explains the modern meaning.