Akkamahadevi countered that the body is merely a vessel. She argued that once the heart is rendered pure, the external appearance or the "garment" of hair is inconsequential. She explained that as long as one sees "male" or "female," they are not yet enlightened; to her, only Shiva was the true Male, and all souls were feminine in their devotion. Significance of the "Test"

Allama Prabhu questioned who her lord was, stating that the Sharanas would only accept her if she belonged to a divine husband. Akkamahadevi responded that she had transcended mortal relations and was "married" only to Chennamallikarjuna (Lord Shiva).

The legendary encounter between and Allama Prabhu at the Anubhava Mantapa remains one of the most profound episodes in 12th-century spiritual history. This "test" was not an interrogation to exclude her, but a rigorous philosophical "acid test" designed to reveal the depth of her enlightenment before the assembly of Sharanas. The Context of the Encounter

Allama Prabhu famously challenged her by asking why, if she had truly transcended the physical body, she still used her long hair to cover it. He suggested that "shame" is a sign of body-consciousness.