Tapas (तप्) (Penance or Austerity)

Tapas (तप्) (Penance or Austerity)
The root word of Tapas in Sanskrit is tapa (तप) which means heat.  Tapas or the spiritual energy is generated by practice of austerities like deep meditation, self-control & discipline and other spiritual practices to attain purification and transformation in the self. Tapasya means self-discipline, undertaken to achieve a goal. With the help of Tapas, the practitioner or worshipper experiences supernormal vision.

The word “Tapas” finds mention in Rigveda (Verse -10.154.5), Satapatha Brahmana (Verse -5.3 - 5.17), Chāndogya & Mandukya Upanishads, Atharva Veda (Verse -4.34.1, 6.61.1, 11.1.26), Patanjali’s Yoga Darshan (Verse – 2.1, 2.32) and Bhagwat Gita (Verse - 17.14-19).
 
Constituents of Tapas:
The Bhagwat Gita (Verse - 17.14-16) deals with tapas from three angles:

1. Body - Worship of gods; honouring and serving the Brahmanas, one’s guru, elders and great soul; purity; straightforwardness; continence (self-restraint) and non-violence - these are called penance of the body (17.14).
2. Speech - Words which cause no annoyance to others and are truthful, agreeable and beneficial, as well as the study of the Vedas and other shastras and the practice of the chanting of Divine names - this is known as penance of speech (17.15).
3. Mind - Cheerfulness of mind, placidity, habit of contemplation on God, control of the mind and perfect purity of inner feelings-all this is called austerity of the mind (17.16).

(ब्रह्मचर्यमहिंसा च शारीरं तप उच्यते ॥ १७-१४॥ अनुद्वेगकरं वाक्यं सत्यं प्रियहितं च यत् । स्वाध्यायाभ्यसनं चैव वाङ्मयं तप उच्यते ॥ १७-१५॥ मनः प्रसादः सौम्यत्वं मौनमात्मविनिग्रहः । भावसंशुद्धिरित्येतत्तपो मानसमुच्यते ॥ १७-१६॥)

Kinds of Tapas:
The Bhagwat Gita (Verse - 17.17-19) defines the purposes of tapas as Sattvika, Rajasika and Tamasika as under:

1. Sattavika - This threefold penance (Body, Speech & Mind) performed with supreme faith by Yogis expecting no return is called Sattvika (17.17).
2. Rajasika - The austerity which is performed for the sake of renowned, honour or adoration, as well as for any other selfish gain, either in all sincerity or by way of ostentation, and yields an uncertain and momentary fruit, has been spoken of here as Rajasika (17.18).
3. Tamasika - Penance which is resorted to out of foolish obstinacy and is accompanied by self-mortification (humiliation), or is intended to harm others, such penance has been declared as Tamasika (17.19).

(श्रद्धया परया तप्तं तपस्तत्त्रिविधं नरैः । अफलाकाङ्क्षिभिर्युक्तैः सात्त्विकं परिचक्षते ॥ १७-१७॥ सत्कारमानपूजार्थं तपो दम्भेन चैव यत् । क्रियते तदिह प्रोक्तं राजसं चलमध्रुवम् ॥ १७-१८॥ मूढग्राहेणात्मनो यत्पीडया क्रियते तपः । परस्योत्सादनार्थं वा तत्तामसमुदाहृतम् ॥ १७-१९॥)

Purpose of Tapas

1. Tapas develop the endurance of pleasure-pain, profit-loss, appreciation-criticism, hunger-thirst, cold-hot etc. and taking healthy & limited food while following the path of Dharma.
2. Tapas is the conservation of energy by withdrawal of sense organs; preventing consciousness from diffusing itself towards external things; and fixing it on the God-thought.
3. Tapas is one of constituents to attain moksha.

 
Tapas in Kriya Yoga

In the eight limbs of Patanjali’s Yoga Darshan, one of the limbs is Niyama (observances of rules). Niyama are five which comprises purity, contentment, tapas (austerity), self-study and self-surrender (शौचसंतोषतपःस्वाध्यायेश्वरप्रणिधानानि नियमाः || Verse-2/32). Patanjali’s Yoga Darshan says, tapas, self-study and self-surrender are means of Kriya Yoga (तपःस्वाध्यायेश्वरप्रणिधानानि क्रियायोगः ||Verse-2/1). Tapas word is used in the sense of control over food, forbearance and also the performance of specified kriya.