The Science of TAPA (Austerities) – Its True Essence & Significance By Dr. Raksha Shah. If TAPA is performed with proper understanding & diligence, it will lead to purification of Mind, Body & Soul. In fact, studies reveal that there can be reversal in diseases like Cancer, Alzheimer too. It can improve Brain cells, Memory & the Like. For info log on to www.healthlibrary.com

1. Dr. Raksha J.ShahDr. Raksha J.Shah
Ph.D., M.A., B.Sc., LL.B ,Dip in YogaPh.D., M.A., B.Sc., LL.B ,Dip in Yoga
dr.rakshashah@gmail.comdr.rakshashah@gmail.com
+919819102060+919819102060

2. WHAT IS TAPA?WHAT IS TAPA?
 The etymological meaning of Tapa isThe etymological meaning of Tapa is ‘Self-‘Self-
mortificationmortification’’
 TapaTapa तपस्तपस्) also means deep meditation, or an) also means deep meditation, or an
effort to achieve self-realizationeffort to achieve self-realization
 It is derived from the word rootIt is derived from the word root taptap (Sanskrit:(Sanskrit:
तप्तप् oror तापताप) which means "heat) which means "heat“, penance, pain,“, penance, pain,
suffering.suffering.

3. WHAT IS TAPA?WHAT IS TAPA?
 According to Jainism it is the renunciation orAccording to Jainism it is the renunciation or
rejection of desire-rejection of desire-”Ichchha Nirodh”,”Ichchha Nirodh”,
 Desire is supposed to be the root cause of allDesire is supposed to be the root cause of all
evils and sufferingsevils and sufferings
 the term also means penance, austerity, piousthe term also means penance, austerity, pious
activityactivity
 Tapa or penance is the process of NirjaraTapa or penance is the process of Nirjara
wherein accumulated karmas are shed away bywherein accumulated karmas are shed away by
conscious effortconscious effort

4. TAPA ACCORDING TO PATANJALITAPA ACCORDING TO PATANJALI
 The yogic tradition believes it to be the fire that burnsThe yogic tradition believes it to be the fire that burns
within- that is needed for the aspirant to achievewithin- that is needed for the aspirant to achieve
enlightenment,enlightenment,
 It is fostering self-control, one mindedness and focus,It is fostering self-control, one mindedness and focus,
simplicity, wisdom, integrity.simplicity, wisdom, integrity.
 The sole purpose is to develop and discipline theThe sole purpose is to develop and discipline the
body and mindbody and mind
 The human body is the sole instrument for sheddingThe human body is the sole instrument for shedding
of karmasof karmas

5. WHY DOES BIRTH IN HUMAN REALMWHY DOES BIRTH IN HUMAN REALM
ALONE LEAD TO SALVATONALONE LEAD TO SALVATON
 The human body is made up of different types of molecules asThe human body is made up of different types of molecules as
compared to the beings in other realmscompared to the beings in other realms
 That are capable of producing the required energy that helps toThat are capable of producing the required energy that helps to
shed karmasshed karmas
 Endurance/tolerance power of a human body is beyondEndurance/tolerance power of a human body is beyond
imaginationimagination
 One needs to keep it fit and healthy, to fulfil the purpose ofOne needs to keep it fit and healthy, to fulfil the purpose of
life on this earth and this human realmlife on this earth and this human realm
 Thereby we need not unnecessarily pamper the body, but seeThereby we need not unnecessarily pamper the body, but see
that it is fit and healthy and always remember the final aimthat it is fit and healthy and always remember the final aim

6. PURPOSE OF THE HUMAN BODYPURPOSE OF THE HUMAN BODY
 ‘‘Sariram adyam khalu dharmasadhanam’Sariram adyam khalu dharmasadhanam’
 The body is the prime instrument for self elevation/dharmasadhana.The body is the prime instrument for self elevation/dharmasadhana.
 It requires to be trained to meet the needs of the soul i.e to getIt requires to be trained to meet the needs of the soul i.e to get
rid of the karmasrid of the karmas
 The enlightened world view can be achieved only by theThe enlightened world view can be achieved only by the
human bodyhuman body
 It is only when the soul acquires birth in the human realm, thatIt is only when the soul acquires birth in the human realm, that
one can attain moksha.one can attain moksha.

7. WHAT IS TRUE HEALTHWHAT IS TRUE HEALTH
 Absence of diseases.Absence of diseases.
 Freedom from drugs and tension.Freedom from drugs and tension.
 Freedom from toxins.Freedom from toxins.
 Presence of vitalityPresence of vitality
 Ability to bear heat, cold, thirst, insult, injury,Ability to bear heat, cold, thirst, insult, injury,
 The appearance of positive thoughts and disappearance ofThe appearance of positive thoughts and disappearance of
negative thoughts.negative thoughts.

8. TYPES OF TAPATYPES OF TAPA
2 Types of Tapa
External (Bahya) Internal (Abhyantar)
TAPA = To curb or win over desires
= vasana nirodh
= ichchha nirodh

9. BAHYA EXTERNAL TAPABAHYA EXTERNAL TAPA
 6 TYPES:6 TYPES:
– Anshan – complete / partial fastAnshan – complete / partial fast
– Unodri – to eat less than requiredUnodri – to eat less than required
– Vrittisankshepa – to decide whatVrittisankshepa – to decide what
– to intake and to have controlto intake and to have control
– over oneover one’s self’s self
– Rasaparityaga – to avoid salt,Rasaparityaga – to avoid salt,
– milk, ghee, curds, oil, sweeteners. – renounce allmilk, ghee, curds, oil, sweeteners. – renounce all
or one of themor one of them
– Viviktasayashana – to sleep or sit in lonely placesViviktasayashana – to sleep or sit in lonely places
– Kayaklesh – to perform tapa at odd placesKayaklesh – to perform tapa at odd places

10. ABHYANTAR EXTERNAL- TAPAABHYANTAR EXTERNAL- TAPA
 Prayashchitta – repentance for wrong doingPrayashchitta – repentance for wrong doing
 Vinaya – respect for religion, preceptors andVinaya – respect for religion, preceptors and
knowledgeknowledge
 Vaiyavrutya – sadhu sevaVaiyavrutya – sadhu seva
 Swadhyaya – study of scripturesSwadhyaya – study of scriptures
 Vyutsarga – to renounce food, water, passionsVyutsarga – to renounce food, water, passions
 Dhyana - meditationDhyana - meditation

11. SOME FACTS ABOUT TAPASOME FACTS ABOUT TAPA
 All of theAll of the kevaljnāniskevaljnānis had practiced penance during theirhad practiced penance during their
lifespanlifespan
 the 24the 24thth
TīrthanTīrthan۬۬۬۬۬۬karakara Lord Mahavir practiced penance forLord Mahavir practiced penance for
more than twelve yearsmore than twelve years
 Lord Mahavir consumed food only for 349 daysLord Mahavir consumed food only for 349 days
 All religions have accepted Tapa for health purposes, controlAll religions have accepted Tapa for health purposes, control
of senses and happinessof senses and happiness
 If Tapa is done mechanically, without proper understanding, itIf Tapa is done mechanically, without proper understanding, it
leads to anger, loss of control over senses, uneasiness andleads to anger, loss of control over senses, uneasiness and
dislikedislike

12. THE SCIENCE OF TAPATHE SCIENCE OF TAPA
 People of various religions take up to fasting.People of various religions take up to fasting.
 Some fast on -Ashtami, Ekadashi,Chaturdashi,Some fast on -Ashtami, Ekadashi,Chaturdashi,
during Ramzan, Easter, etc.during Ramzan, Easter, etc.
 it helps man in his mundane and spiritual life.it helps man in his mundane and spiritual life.
 fasting makes the mind calm and serenefasting makes the mind calm and serene
 Therefore fasting is referred to as param tapa, orTherefore fasting is referred to as param tapa, or
supreme austerity.supreme austerity.
 People fast as the rainy weather too is not conducivePeople fast as the rainy weather too is not conducive
to digestion and the quality of available food alsoto digestion and the quality of available food also
degeneratesdegenerates

13. WHAT THE RESEARCHERS SAYWHAT THE RESEARCHERS SAY
 intermittent fasting can reverse illnesses likeintermittent fasting can reverse illnesses like
cancer, diabetescancer, diabetes , heart disease and, heart disease and
neurodegenerative disorders.neurodegenerative disorders.
 fasting they add could starve tumors, reducefasting they add could starve tumors, reduce
inflammation, or improve the removal ofinflammation, or improve the removal of
damaged molecules and other components ofdamaged molecules and other components of
cellscells..
 It could help fight obesity,diabetes,heartIt could help fight obesity,diabetes,heart
disease , cancer and Alzheimer'sdisease , cancer and Alzheimer's

14. WHAT THE RESEARCHERS SAY-contdWHAT THE RESEARCHERS SAY-contd
 According to Satchidananda Panda, anAccording to Satchidananda Panda, an
associate professor of regulatory biology at theassociate professor of regulatory biology at the
Salk Institute for Biological Studies in SanSalk Institute for Biological Studies in San
Diego, California,- "Intermittent fasting helpsDiego, California,- "Intermittent fasting helps
the body to rejuvenate and repair thusthe body to rejuvenate and repair thus
promoting overall health,"promoting overall health,"

15. DR.MOSLEYDR.MOSLEY’S EXPERIMENT’S EXPERIMENT
 In the Horizon documentary by Dr Michael MosleyIn the Horizon documentary by Dr Michael Mosley
on,on, “Eat, Fast and Live Longer he explored 2 things:“Eat, Fast and Live Longer he explored 2 things:
(1) the secrets to good health and (2) the secrets to(1) the secrets to good health and (2) the secrets to
longevity by fastinglongevity by fasting
 The study of three day continuous fasting andThe study of three day continuous fasting and
alternate day fasting as well as fasting for two days aalternate day fasting as well as fasting for two days a
week and eating the rest of the five days wereweek and eating the rest of the five days were
observedobserved

16. DR. MOSLEYDR. MOSLEY’S INFERENCE’S INFERENCE
 Dr. Mosley discovered that fasting has anDr. Mosley discovered that fasting has an
effect on the aging of the brain.effect on the aging of the brain.
 In fact, hunger actually created new brain cellsIn fact, hunger actually created new brain cells
and increased the cognitive abilitiesand increased the cognitive abilities
 Fasting helped lose weight ,and significantlyFasting helped lose weight ,and significantly
reduce body fat.reduce body fat.
 the glucose level drops to a good level, badthe glucose level drops to a good level, bad
cholesterol too drops with the increase incholesterol too drops with the increase in
good cholesterol.good cholesterol.

17. DR. MOSLEYDR. MOSLEY’S INFERENCE’S INFERENCE
 Good health and longevity in age lies in diet –Good health and longevity in age lies in diet –
the food that we eat does matter.the food that we eat does matter.
 The Fasting for two days in a week worksThe Fasting for two days in a week works
wonders.wonders.
 Fasting makes you healthier.Fasting makes you healthier.
 Fasting makes you sharper.Fasting makes you sharper.

18. WHO CAN TAKE UP TAPA?WHO CAN TAKE UP TAPA?
 Dasavaikalika Sutra : One should performDasavaikalika Sutra : One should perform
austerities, taking into considerationausterities, taking into consideration oneone’s’s
capacity, faith, fitness, place and timecapacity, faith, fitness, place and time
 Gyanasar:Gyanasar: YashovijayjiYashovijayji says,says, ‘ Perform Tapa‘ Perform Tapa
as long as you can have control over youras long as you can have control over your
senses, over yoga, and your mind’senses, over yoga, and your mind’
 Pregnant women and sick persons should notPregnant women and sick persons should not
undertake Tapaundertake Tapa..

19. SIGNIFICANCE OF TAPASIGNIFICANCE OF TAPA
 They are performedThey are performed
– To calm down the ever-wandering mindTo calm down the ever-wandering mind
– To get peace and tranquilityTo get peace and tranquility
– To reduce stressTo reduce stress
– To stopTo stop ‘Ashrava’, ‘Samvara’ and ‘Bandha’‘Ashrava’, ‘Samvara’ and ‘Bandha’
– For happiness and purification of the soulFor happiness and purification of the soul
– For karma nirjaraFor karma nirjara
 However, Tapa done mechanically, without properHowever, Tapa done mechanically, without proper
understanding, leads to anger, loss of control overunderstanding, leads to anger, loss of control over
senses, uneasiness and dislikesenses, uneasiness and dislike

20. SIGNIFICANCE OF TAPA CONTD..SIGNIFICANCE OF TAPA CONTD..
 ::to regulate oneto regulate one’s diet and be desireless’s diet and be desireless
 Gradually calm down the evil impressions andGradually calm down the evil impressions and
defilementsdefilements
 helps discipline the body, mind and characterhelps discipline the body, mind and character
 to attain control over the sense organs and theto attain control over the sense organs and the
wandering mind.wandering mind.
 helps the ERADICATION AND INHIBITION ofhelps the ERADICATION AND INHIBITION of
karmaskarmas
 Develops the ability to remain tranquil and balancedDevelops the ability to remain tranquil and balanced
in every situation,in every situation,

21. Dr.Raksha J.ShahDr.Raksha J.Shah
(PhD., M.A., B.Sc., LL.B., Diploma in Naturopathy & Yoga)(PhD., M.A., B.Sc., LL.B., Diploma in Naturopathy & Yoga)
Visiting LecturerVisiting Lecturer, Journalist,, Journalist, Spiritual & MotivationalSpiritual & Motivational
SpeakerSpeaker atat National and International Conferences,National and International Conferences,
Seminars.Seminars.
Conducting Workshops on Holistic WellnessConducting Workshops on Holistic Wellness thethe Jaina WayJaina Way
+91-9819102060+91-9819102060
dr.rakshashah@gmail.comdr.rakshashah@gmail.com
shahraksha99@hotmail.comshahraksha99@hotmail.com