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STUDIES IN THE BHAGAWATI SŪTRA (Ch. VII Austerity (Tapah)
There are stated two kinds of austerity, viz. external (bāhirika) and internal (abhyantarilca), which are again divided and subdivided into different kinds.
External Austerity
External austerity is divided into six kinds, viz. (1) Anasana (fasting), (2) Avamodarikā (general reduction of food, articles, passion, etc.), (3) Bhiksācaryā (begging of alms), (4) Rasatyāja (abstension from drink, liquor, ghee, etc.), (5) Kāyallesa (physical mortification or suffering) and (6) Pratisamlinatā (complete retirement to a lonely place for the sake of meditation and mortification of flesh), or control of senses, passions, activities and non-enjoyment of seat, bed, etc.).
According to the Tattvārtha Sutra: the external austerity consists of Anašana (fasting), Avamodarya (general reduction of food, etc.), Vrittiparisankhyāna (limit of various articles of food and drink), Rasaparityāga (abstention from drinks, etc.), Viviktasayanāsana (indifference to comfortable and discomfortable bed in a lonely place) and Kayakleśa (mortification of flesh). The difference between the two definitions lies in the fact that the
Tattvärthasūtra prescribes Vitti-parisankhyāna and Vivikta ayanāšana in place of Bhiksācaryā and Pratisanlinatā respectively of the Bhs. In the definition of the latter Viviktasayanāsanasevanatā (indifference to comfortable and discomfortable bed in a lonely place) is one of the four kinds of Pratisanlinatā.
Anasana
It is stated to be of two kinds, viz. Itvarika (short lived or temporary) and Yāvatkathika (lifelong till death). Itvarila Anasına is again divided into the following categories, viz. caturthabhakta, sașthabhalta, upto six-monthly fast's, as already explained in the previous section in connection with the practice of asceticism by Skandaka.
1 BhS, 25,7,802.
2 Tattvārtha Sutra, 9, 19.
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