Tapas
By Swami Harshananda
Tapas literally means ‘that which causes suffering’.
The word tapas comes from the root-verb ‘tap’.[1] Hence it means any discipline that causes suffering to the body-mind complex.
Tapas as per Ṛgveda[edit]
We can see the usage of this word even in the Ṛgveda.[2] There it is interpreted as the penances like kṛcchra and meditation on Hiraṇyagarbha.
Tapas as per Upaniṣad[edit]
It is also used in the Upaniṣads like the Chāndogya Upaniṣad[3] and the Mundaka Upaniṣad[4] in the sense of performance of one’s duties and austerities.
Tapas as per Dharmasutras[edit]
Dharmasutras like those of Gautama[5] equate it with a number of observances like:
- Brahmacarya - celibacy
- Satyavacana - speaking the truth
- Ārdra-vastratā - wearing wet clothes on the body until they dry up
- Adhaśśāyitā - sleeping on the bare ground
- Ahiṅsā - non-injury
- Astainya - not depriving anyone of his possessions
- Etc.
The duration for the observance of these as expiations varies from one day to year. It also depends on the nature of sin.
Tapas as per Yogasutras[edit]
The Yogasutras of Patañjali[6][7][8] uses the word in the sense of control over food, forbearance and also the performance of kṛcchra and cāndrāyaṇa. The Bhagavadgitā[9] deals with tapas from three angles:
- Śārīra[10] - Honoring and serving gods and holy persons, cleanliness, celibacy and non-violence belong to this category.
- Vāṅmaya[11] - Sweet but truthful speech belongs to this category.
- Mānasa[12] - Control of mind and purity of emotions are the essential elements of this section.
Tapas as per Gītā[edit]
The Gītā further qualifies these three kinds from the standpoint of the three guṇas.
- Sāttvik tapas is that which is performed by persons of pure character possessing concentration and faith.
- The tapas performed by persons who are hypocrites, for selfish benefits like name and honor, is termed rājasik.
- The one undertaken by foolish persons to harm others is classed as tāmasik.
References[edit]
- ↑ Tap means santāpe, in the sense of suffering.
- ↑ Ṛgveda 10.154.2
- ↑ Chāndogya Upaniṣad 5.10.1,2
- ↑ Mundaka Upaniṣad 1.2.11
- ↑ Gautama Dharmasutras 19.15
- ↑ He lived in 200 B. C.
- ↑ Yogasutras 2.1
- ↑ Yogasutras 2.32
- ↑ Bhagavadgitā 17.14-19
- ↑ Śārīra means physical.
- ↑ Vāṅmaya means as pertaining to speech.
- ↑ Mānasa means mental.
- The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore