Tapa
(तप)Literal Meaning
Austerity
Etymology & Sanskrit Root
From Sanskrit 'tap' (to heat, burn); the Jain practice of 'burning away' accumulated karma through austerity, divided into twelve types — six external, six internal.
Spiritual Insight & Context
More demanding than external austerities like fasting, Jainism holds internal tapas — such as confession (prayashchitta) and humility (vinaya) — as equally, if not more, valuable.