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A SOURCE-BOOK IN JAINA PHILOSOPHY
4. Abstinence from one or more of the six objects of taste (rasa-parityāga).
These rasas or tastes are-1. Kasu (sour), 2. Madhura (sweet), 3. Āmla (acidic), 4. Tikta (bitter) 5. Kāşāya (astringent) and 6. Lavana (saltish).
5. Mortification of the body or to tolerate the pains, griefs given by other beings or aroused by previously accumulated demeritorious karmas (kāyaklesa).
6. To be static in self-nature (pratisaṁlinatā). 7. Expiation (prāyaścitta). 8. Modesty (vina ya) 9. Servitude (vaiyyāv rtya). 10. Self-study (swādhyāya). 11. Meditation (dhyāna). 12. Giving up through non-attachment (vyutsarga).
Among these twelve tapas (penances), first six are external penances or austerities (bāhya tapas) and the last six are internal austerities (antaranga tapas).
ANASANA (FASTING) Fasting (anaśana) is the first of the external austerities. It is much more difficult to practise in comparison to other austerities. In this type of austerity a devotee has to win victory on hunger, and it is well known to all that hunger is too difficult to win. In other words, it can be said that huoger has got victory over every jiva of the world. It is a hero, who can be termed as world-victorious. Every type of sin is the consequence of hunger. But a devotee has to win this world-famous hero.
To win hunger and control the mind is anaśana austerity. Only to remain hungry cannot be regarded anasana austerity. Many man and animals, creatures etc., have to remain hungry when they could not get food and drinking water. But their being hungry can not be regarded as austerity. It would be austerity when a devotee can get food easily, but he wilfully keeps fast and
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