Kausagg (Kayotsarga) is a very important Jain meditation practice.

Simple meaning

• Word meaning: Kaya + utsarga = giving up (letting go of) the body.
• In practice: standing (or sitting) absolutely still, keeping the body relaxed and quiet, and focusing only on the soul (atma) and on sacred sutras/mantras.

It is not throwing away the body, but dropping attachment to the body for that time.

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How Kausagg is done (basic idea)

Usually:

• Body straight, steady, and still
• Hands relaxed (often by the sides if standing)
• Eyes lightly downcast or closed
• Breathing normal
• Mind engaged in:

- Navkar Mantra, Logassa, or other sutras - Thoughts of forgiveness, equanimity, and purity of soul

This stillness + awareness is called Kausagg / Kayotsarga. ( jainknowledge.com)

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Spiritual significance

In Kausagg, we:

1. Withdraw from body-consciousness

- “I am not this body; I am pure soul.” - We watch the body like a separate object.

1. Reduce new karma (samvar)

- When the body and mind are quiet, we stop many new karmas from binding.

1. Shed old karmas (nirjara)

- Peaceful endurance of posture and sensations, with right attitude, helps in slowly shedding existing karmas. ( jainknowledge.com)

1. Strengthen vivek and samata

- It trains us to remain equanimous in pleasure–pain, heat–cold, etc. - This supports right conduct and progress toward moksha.

Because of this, Kausagg is kept as a separate avashyak (essential limb) in many Jain practices such as Samayik, Pratikraman, and Chaitya-vandan. ( jainknowledge.com)

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Where it appears in practice

• Pratikraman – one full avashyak step is Kayotsarga (Kausagg) – a period of stillness and inner repentance. ( jainknowledge.com)
• Samayik – used to deepen equanimity.
• Chaitya-vandan – during some sutras we stand in Kausagg. ( jainknowledge.com)
• Idols of Tirthankars (especially Digambar) often show Kayotsarga posture, symbolizing complete detachment from body and possessions. ( jainknowledge.com)

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Digambar and Shvetambar view

Both Digambar and Shvetambar:

• Accept Kayotsarga / Kausagg as a key Jain meditation of body-abandonment (in the sense of detachment).
• Use it in Pratikraman, Samayik, and other sadhanas.
• May differ in:

- The exact sutras recited (e.g., specific Kayotsarga sutras, Logassa, etc.) - Some posture and vidhi details. ( jainknowledge.com)

But basic meaning and purpose are the same: stilling the body and turning the mind towards the pure soul to purify karma.

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For a simple explanation of Kausagg / Kayotsarga and where it is used in Jain practice, you can read more here