Answer

In Moksha Tap, a person performs ayambil tap with the bhāvna of attaining moksha — liberation from the cycle of birth and death.

Usually, in Moksha Tap:

• One does ayambil as per proper Jain rules.
• One keeps purity in food, thoughts, speech, and conduct.
• One does pratikraman, samayik, swadhyay, jap, and dev-guru-dharma bhakti as much as possible.
• One avoids anger, pride, deceit, greed, gossip, and unnecessary activities.
• One reflects on the soul’s true nature and the path to liberation.

Explanation

Ayambil means taking simple, tasteless food once in the day, without rich taste items like ghee, oil, milk, curd, sweets, spices, fruits, etc., according to the rules followed in one’s Jain tradition.

The main purpose of Moksha Tap is not only fasting or food restriction. Its real purpose is:

• to reduce attachment to taste,
• to control the senses,
• to purify the mind,
• to increase awareness of the soul,
• and to strengthen the desire for moksha.

Spiritual Understanding

In Jain Dharma, moksha is achieved by destroying karmas through:

• Samyak Darshan — right faith,
• Samyak Gyan — right knowledge,
• Samyak Charitra — right conduct.

Moksha Tap helps a person move toward these qualities by practicing self-control, simplicity, and detachment.

Takeaway

Moksha Tap should be done with shraddha, purity, humility, and guidance from guru or knowledgeable elders. The outer tap is ayambil, but the inner tap is reducing passions and remembering the pure soul.