In Jain dharma, the phrase “Arham tap” can be understood by splitting the two words:

• “Arham” – comes from the root of Arihant / Arhat

- Arihant = the one who has ended (anta) the inner enemies (ari) like anger, pride, deceit, and greed. - So “Arham” is used as a pious word/mantra remembering the purity and worthiness of Arihants.

• “Tap” – means austerity / penance, i.e. any practice of self‑control and self‑purification, such as:

- fasting (upvās, ayambil, etc.) - food limitations (ekāsan, beāsan, etc.) - bodily discipline and endurance - mental disciplines like samayik, pratikraman, dhyān, etc.

So, “Arham tap” generally means: > Doing some form of tap (austerity) while remembering “Arham” – i.e. with devotion to Arihant and with focus on conquering inner passions.

In practice, this phrase is often used in modern Jain groups or sanghs as a name for a special tapa or series of fasts, where:

• participants do certain fasts or food‑rules,
• keep jap / dhyān on “Om Arham” or “Arham”,
• and dedicate the tap to becoming more like an Arihant (reducing krodh, mān, māyā, lobh).

Scriptural note:

• In the classical Jain scriptures, tap is described as:

- bāhya tap (external: anshan, unodari, vritti‑sankshep, etc.) - antarik tap (internal: prāyashchitta, vinay, vaiyāvratya, svādhyāy, vyutsarga, dhyān).

• “Arham tap” is not the name of a separate, canonical tap in the āgams; it is a devotional/modern title built on these traditional ideas.
• Both Digambar and Shvetāmbara accept the basic meanings of Arham (related to Arihant) and tap (austerity); the use of the exact phrase “Arham tap” as a packaged program or group‑tap is more a practical tradition, and can differ from sangh to sangh.

In short: Arham tap = any Jain austerity done with deep remembrance of “Arham” (Arihant) and with the aim of purifying the soul from inner enemies.