Answer

In Jain Dharma, Tapasya means austerity or disciplined spiritual practice performed to reduce attachment, control passions, purify karma, and progress toward liberation.

Traditionally, Jain scriptures describe 12 main forms of Tapasya, divided into two groups:

• 6 External Tapasyas – related mainly to the body and physical discipline
• 6 Internal Tapasyas – related mainly to inner purification of the soul

12 Types of Tapasya

1. External Tapasya – Bahya Tap

• 1. Anashan – Fasting; giving up food for a fixed period.
• 2. Unodari / Avamodarya – Eating less than one’s hunger.
• 3. Vritti-sankshep – Limiting the variety, source, or conditions of food and needs.
• 4. Ras-tyag – Giving up tasty or stimulating foods, such as rich flavors.
• 5. Kaya-klesh – Enduring bodily hardships peacefully for spiritual discipline.
• 6. Sanlinata / Vivikta-shayyasan – Staying in solitude, avoiding worldly disturbance, and reducing bodily attachment.

2. Internal Tapasya – Abhyantar Tap

• 1. Prayashchitta – Repentance and atonement for mistakes.
• 2. Vinay – Humility and respect toward Guru, scriptures, and spiritual discipline.
• 3. Vaiyavruttya / Vaiyavritya – Selfless service to monks, nuns, the sick, and worthy beings.
• 4. Swadhyaya – Study and reflection on scriptures and spiritual teachings.
• 5. Vyutsarga / Kayotsarga – Giving up attachment to the body; meditative stillness.
• 6. Dhyana – Meditation and deep spiritual concentration.

Common Jain Tapasyas Practiced by Shravaks and Shravikas

• Navkarsi – Eating only after a fixed time after sunrise.
• Porsi – Eating after one prahar of the day.
• Sadh-porsi – Eating after one and a half prahar.
• Purimaddha / Purimardh – Eating after half the day has passed.
• Avaddha – Eating after a longer fixed period of the day.
• Biyasana – Eating only two times in a day.
• Ekasana – Eating only once in one sitting during the day.
• Ayambil – Eating simple, tasteless food once a day, without spices, sweets, oils, milk products, etc., according to tradition.
• Upvas – Complete fast for a day, usually taking only boiled water within allowed time if permitted by one’s tradition.
• Chauvihar Upvas – Fasting without food and water from sunset to next sunrise or according to the vow taken.
• Tivihar Upvas – Fasting with restriction on food, while boiled water may be taken during permitted time.
• Bela – Two continuous fasts.
• Tela – Three continuous fasts.
• Attham – Three-day fast, especially practiced during certain sacred occasions.
• Atthai – Eight-day fast.
• Masakshaman – Month-long fasting austerity.
• Navpad Oli Ayambil – Nine days of Ayambil performed during Oli, devoted to the nine sacred Navpad.
• Varsitap – A year-long austerity traditionally associated with Bhagwan Rishabhdev, often involving fasting on alternate days.
• Siddhitap – A structured sequence of fasts and eating days performed with devotion.
• Vardhaman Tap – A gradually increasing pattern of Ayambil or fasting, practiced with discipline.
• Chhath – Six-day related austerity; details vary by tradition and vow.
• Navkarshi / Porsi / Ekasana Tap – Time-restricted and meal-restricted austerities practiced regularly.
• Santhara / Sallekhana – Final spiritual vow of peaceful, detached fasting at the end of life under proper spiritual conditions; it is not ordinary fasting.

Spiritual Understanding

Tapasya in Jain Dharma is not meant for showing strength, punishing the body, or gaining praise. Its true purpose is:

• to reduce raag and dwesh — attachment and aversion,
• to develop control over senses,
• to practice equanimity,
• to shed karmas,
• to awaken the soul’s purity.

External Tapasya disciplines the body, while Internal Tapasya purifies the mind and soul. Jain tradition gives special importance to internal tapasya because true spiritual progress depends on purity of intention.

Takeaway

The complete traditional classification of Jain Tapasya is 12 types: 6 external and 6 internal. Other fasts like Upvas, Ayambil, Atthai, Masakshaman, Varsitap, Siddhitap, and Oli are practical forms of austerity followed by Jain laypeople with devotion and discipline.