Answer

In Jainism, Tap means austerity or spiritual discipline practiced to reduce attachment, control desires, and shed karmas. Atthai is one well-known form of Tap, where a person fasts for 8 days.

Broadly, Jain scriptures describe 12 types of Tap:

• 6 Bahya Tap — external austerities
• 6 Abhyantar Tap — internal austerities

6 Bahya Tap — External Austerities

• Anshan — fasting completely, such as Upvas, Atthai, Masakshaman, etc.
• Unodari — eating less than one’s hunger.
• Vritti-Sankshep — limiting the types or sources of food.
• Rasa-Parityag — giving up tasty foods or specific tastes.
• Kaya-Klesh — bearing bodily hardship with equanimity.
• Sanlinata — withdrawing from worldly distractions and maintaining discipline.

6 Abhyantar Tap — Internal Austerities

• Prayashchitta — repentance for mistakes.
• Vinay — humility and respect toward Gurus, elders, and Dharma.
• Vaiyavach — selfless service to monks, nuns, and others.
• Swadhyay — study of scriptures and spiritual reflection.
• Dhyan — meditation and concentration on the soul.
• Kayotsarg — detachment from the body and remaining absorbed in the soul.

Common Fasting Taps Like Atthai

• Upvas — one-day fast.
• Bey Upvas — two-day fast.
• Tela — three-day fast.
• Attham — three-day fast, often associated with special observance.
• Atthai — eight-day fast.
• Masakshaman — one-month fast.
• Varshitap — year-long alternate-day fasting, traditionally connected with Bhagwan Rishabhdev.
• Ayambil — eating simple, tasteless food once a day, avoiding spices, sweets, oils, milk products, etc.
• Navpad Oli — nine days of Ayambil performed during the Oli period.

Spiritual Understanding

In Jain Dharma, Tap is not only about not eating. Its deeper purpose is:

• to reduce attachment to the body,
• to control taste and desire,
• to develop forgiveness and humility,
• to purify the soul,
• and to move closer to liberation.

Takeaway

Atthai is a respected form of Anshan Tap, but Jainism teaches that true Tap includes both outer discipline and inner purity. Fasting becomes spiritually meaningful when it is practiced with humility, non-violence, awareness, and detachment.