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There have been in vogue from very early times two terms wellknown to Indian Culture which comprehend all the stages of spiritual development. These terms are 'Tapas' and Yoga'. Of these two Tapas is even earlier and more comprehensive. Ancient Indian Culture comprises two cultural traditions - śramana and Brāhmaṇa. The Prāksta form of Bramaņa is Samaņa. It means Vịtti-Samana . subsidence of passions; or it is derived from the root Sram meaning to exert, to observe austerity or penance. Moreover, terms like Tapasvi and Tāpasa are very well-known as synonyms and types of Sramaņa. All this points to the fact that the Sramaņa religion has its basis in Tapas; and this Tapas has always been the nucleus in the development and spread of the different schools of Sramana religion.
Brabmanism, on the other hand, is rooted in Brahman' or 'Yajña '; in other word, the concept of Yajña has reigned supreme in the development and spread of Brabmanism. Nevertheless, the Vedic mantras and the Brāhmaṇa texts which are closely associated with Yajña do mention the word Tapas referring to its efficacy and glory. Besides, even the texts like Satapatha Brābmana employ the root Sram in the context of Tapas. In the Araṇyakas and the Upanişads, however, the importance of the external aspect of Yajña ( as sacrificial ritual ) is fast fading out giving place to jñāna and Tapas - its inner aspect.. Thus the Tapo-mārga has developed and spread not only independently of Yajña-mārga but also along with the Yajña-mārga as a part of it.
1. tvaṁ tapaḥ paritapyājayaḥ svaḥ/ Rgveda X, 167. 1; X 109. 4; X. 154.
2-4; Atharvaveda IV. 35. 1-2. 2. etad vai paramam tapo / yad vyäbitas tapyate paramam haiva lokam
jayati... / Satapatha XIV. 8. 11. Taittiriya Br. II. 2. 9. 1.
3. Prajāpatir ba vă idam agra eka evāsa / sa aikșata katham nu
prajāyeya iti so'śrāmyat sa tapo'tapyata ... / Satapatha II. 2. 4. 1;
IX. 5. 1. 2. 4. tapasă Brahma vijijñāsasva/ tapo Brahma iti sa tapo'tapyata /
Taittiriya Up. III. 2. Cf. Taittiriya Up. I. 9; Mundaka I. 2. 11, I. 1. 8-9; Svetāśvatara Up. I. 15. na cakşușā grbyate näpi vacă
nányair devais tapasā karmaņā vă/ jñänaprasādena višuddhasattvas tatas tu
tam paśyata nişkalam dhyāyamānaḥ // Mundaka Up. III. 1. 8. Ci. Chandogya Up. III. 17. 4; Bșhadāraṇyaka Up. I. 2. 6; III. 8. 10.
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