229. Types of Tapah

Like ahankaar, there are few words to explain tapa or tapah. Japah and tapah are intrinsically understood in all Indian cultures. As a compromise, tapah is translated as austerity or penance. Krishna says that tapah is of three types - of the body, of speech and of mind.

Krishna says, “The worship of the Devas, twice-born (first physical birth and later spiritual awakening), gurus, and wise; purity, uprightness, celibacy, and non-violence are considered tapah of body (17.14). Meditative communion with self, and uttering words that cause no agitation, that are truthful, pleasant, and beneficial are declared as tapah of speech (17.15). The serenity of mind, kindliness, silence, self-control, and purity of character are declared as tapah of mind” (17.16). These verses elevate our general understanding of tapah in that they can be performed at the level of the body, at the level of the words we speak and at the level of our thoughts.

After describing three types of tapah, Krishna explains them in the context of gunas and says, “This threefold tapah is satvik in nature when practiced by devout men with shraddha and desiring no fruit of actions (17.17). The tapah is said to be rajasik when performed to gain reverence, recognition, adoration and with ostentation; and is unstable and transitory (17.18). The tapah that is performed based on ignorance or foolishness involving torturing the self or harming others, is described as tamasik tapah” (17.19).

These verses indicate the type of tapah we perform under the influence of the guna at that given point of time. On the other hand, Krishna advises us to transcend the gunas to be guna-atheeth, who neither longs for any of guna nor hates its absence. A guna-atheeth does not long to perform tapah in a particular way. Rather, he performs it like a sakshi, without attachment.