What are the different types of Tapasyas (Austerity)?
There are two major types of austerities. They are:
1)
External (bahyantar)
2)
Internal (abhyantar)
Each one of these two are further sub-divided into six groups.
What is theExternal Tapasya (Austerity)?
External austerities are those austerities which when performed can be
noticed by other people.
What is the Internal Tapasya (Austerity)?
Internal austerities are those austerities which when performed, can not
be noticed by other people.
Can you name the External Tapasyas (Austerity)?
External austerities are:
1) Anasan
2) Unodari
3) Vruti Sankshep
4) Rasa Tyag
5) Kaya Kalesha
6) Samlinta.
Can you name the Internal Tapasyas (Austerity)?
Internal austerities are:
1) Prayschit
2) Vinay
3) Vaiyavachcha
4) Vyutsarga
5) Swadhyay
6) Dhyan
What is Anasan Tapa (Austerity)?
Anasan Tapa means fasting for a day, for some days or rest of one�s life
by completely renouncing food and water, etc. Anasan is also taken to
render death auspiciously.
What is Unodari Tapa (Austerity)?
Unodari Tapa means eating and drinking (water) less than the extent of
one�s hunger and thirst during the meals.
What is Vrutti Sankshep Tapa (Austerity)?
Vruti Sankshep Tapa means reducing the desires. One must renounce some of
the items during the meals.
What is Rasa Parityag Tapa (Austerity)?
Ras parityag Tapa means renouncing those kinds of foods and drinks that
provoke taste, and increases the strength and excitement. There are 14
sub-types of this austerity. It can be done partially or in total for one
time or for prolonged time.
What is Kaya Kalesha Tapa (Austerity)?
.In Kayaklesh Tapa one makes the body suffer by yoga or staying in one
position for a longer time.
What is Samlinata Kayaklesh Tapa (Austerity)?
In Pratisanlinata Tapa one controls all senses to stop pleasant and
unpleasant temptations, also controls lying, distorting the truth, and
sensual talks.
What is Prayaschita Tapa (Austerity)?
In Prayaschit Tapa one confesses the various errors of commission and
omission, the faults and the sins committed knowingly or unknowingly to
the sadhu, to the person concerned or to oneself. One says
Micchchamidukadam. One fully carries out the prescribed atonement by sadhu.
What is Vinay Tapa (Austerity)?
In Vinay Tapa one becomes polite and respectful towards all.
What is Vaiyavachch Tapa (Austerity)?
Vaiyavachcha Tapa means serving religious teachers, ascetic, virtuous
people, sadhu, sadhvies, colleagues, companion and needy people with
devotion, including animals.
What is Vyutsarga Tapa (Austerity)?
In Vyutsarga Tapa one stands still and meditates. This austerity is also
called Kayotsarga. During this, one renounces the attachment for the body,
and takes care of the soul.
What is Swadhyay Tapa (Austerity)?
In Swadhyay Tapa one must study, teach and reflect deeply on such sacred
books as to inspire one to attain self‑realization and enable one to save
one�s soul from getting lost in the entanglements of the social life.
What is Dhyan Tapa (Austerity)?
Dhyan Tapa means concentrating the mind on the real nature of the soul.
What is the Navkarasi?
One must take food and water 40 minutes after the sunrise. Even the
brushing of the teeth and rinsing the mouths must be done after that time.
What is the Porsi?
Taking food or water three hours after the sunrise.
What is the Sadh-Porasi?
Taking food and water four hours and thirty minutes after the sunrise.
What is the Purimuddh?
Taking food and water six hours after the sunrise.
What is the Avaddh?
Taking food and water eight hours after the sunrise.
What is the Biyasan?
One must take food only twice a day at one sitting each time.
What is the Ekasan?
One takes food once a day sitting in one place. (One should not eat the
salad or the raw grains.) One also drinks the boiled water during the
daytime.
What is the Ayambil?
One takes food only once in one sitting. Food should be boiled and not
have any spices, milk, curd, ghee, oil, and raw vegetables. One drinks
only boiled water during the daytime. It is better if one can do the
chauvihar or the tivihar the night before.
What is the Upavas?
Upavas means fasting for twenty-four hours from the sunrise today to the
sunrise on the next day, during which one does not take any kind of food
or liquids but may drink the boiled water. It is prefered if one can do
the chauvihar or the tivihar the night before.
a) Tivihar upavas ‑ During this, one does not take any food or drink any
liquids except the boiled water only.
b) Chauvihar upavas - During this, one does not take any food or liquids
during the day or the night.
What is the Tivihar?
In tivihar one does not take food of any kind including liquids except
water after the sunset until the sunrise next day but can take water.
What is the Chauvihar?
Chauvihar means one does not take any food or any liquids after the sunset
until the sunrise next day.
What is the Attham?
Attham means upavas for continuous three days.
