Tapas in Jainism means disciplined austerity or penance undertaken to purify the soul and burn the karmic particles that attach to it.

Key ideas:

• Self-control of body, speech, and mind.
• Voluntary hardships or fasting, restraint, and mindful living.
• Aimed at reducing karma and increasing spiritual purity, so one can progress on the path to liberation.
• It is practiced by both monks and laypeople, though in different forms and intensities.
• In Jain texts, tapas is not about suffering for its own sake but about steady, mindful practice that leads to inner clarity and detachment.

Difference between traditions:

• Both Digambaras and Śvetāmbaras view tapas as essential, but the emphasis and specific practices (types and levels of austerities) can vary in their manuals and prescriptions.

In short, tapas is the steady, conscious discipline that helps a Jain burn karma and progress toward liberation.