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The Path of Arhat: A Religious Democracy
His physical frame never decayed as a result of his penances. It is said that his physical prowess and personality were outstanding throughout his life. This could be possible because he was living only in the spirit, and could train his body to yield to his spirit. Every breath of his existence was in rhythm with the whole universe and undergoing hard penances he had a blind faith that if his physical existence was needed in the universe it would be sustained inspite of these penances.
As Pt. Sukhala laji puts it: "Bhagavana (Maḥāvīra ) was known as a 'Dirgha Tapasvi' not only because of his 'Bahya Tapa' but also because he utilised his penances to develop his inner spiritual evolution."
Thus without Abhyantara Tapa, Bahya Tapa has no value and the Bahya Tapa is valuable only in so far as it is helpful in developing the spiritual evolution of the inner self.
Sanllekhana
This means a planned scheme of fasting and mortification. This is the process of austerity and penance undertaken to complete the process of Nirjara (drying up of accumulated karmas). A time comes in the life of everyone when the physical organs fail to perform their functions and the body becomes incapable of rendering any service either to the self or to the society. The physical existence itself becomes burdensome to all. This is the time to take leave of this world. A true Jaina realizes this and determines to put an end to such kind of purposeless existence. He, therefore, enters into a deep meditation at a suitable place, renounces all food and drink and puts an end to life. Some ignoramuses confuse this with suicide. But suicide is the cry of frustration and despair, while this process of Sanllekhana is the highest form of austerity which can be undertaken only by the great souls like Vinobājī.
Thus Jainism recognises mildest to the hardest forms of religious austerities as Tapa, provided they are inspired from within and are in turn helpful to develop the spiritual advancement'from within.
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