According to the alchemical principles of body, the bodys energy is utilized whenever the mind engages with the material world around. To replenish these, we need food, water and breath constantly. As the body is used to generate more energy, it ages and eventually dies.
However, when the mind withdraws from material reality, it does not depend on nature anymore. It does not need to be fed. It generates heat autonomously, without fuel. This is tapa, a spiritual fire that does not need fuel, unlike agni which is the material fire that needs fuel.
Tapa cleanses the mind and purges all memories and prejudices so that it experiences sat-Chitta-ananda. It makes the body radiant, and youthful and prevents it from aging. Tapasya is the process of lighting this fire.
Tapa 净化心灵,清除所有记忆和偏见,从而体验身心安詳。它使身体容光焕发,年轻,防止衰老。 Tapasya 是点燃这火的过程。 Lakulesh 和他的追随者是.
Tapasvins hold Prakriti in disdain because of everything in nature is mortal. They seek immortality. In nature, everything is limited by space and time and restricted by form. The Tapasvin wants to break free from all limitations, expand into infinity, and achieve what is called Siddha, the ability to acquire whatever he desires, not be fettered by gravity. And so the Tapasvin seeks to fly in the air and walk on water, expand and contract his size, and change his shape. He seeks independence from nature. Withdrawing from nature is the first step in this process.
Detached from nature, a Tapasvin feels no pain, hears no sound, sees no image, tastes no flavor and smells no odor. In art, Tapasvins are shown as seated in cross-legged positions with creepers around their feet, termite hills over their bodies and serpents slithering around their necks. These men are intellectually, emotionally and physically liberated from all things materials.
Tapasvins look inwards in their quest for independence and infinity. This inward gaze away from material world is called nivritti marga, while the outward materialistic gaze is called pravritti marga. The inward gaze seeks the seed from where the tree comes; the outward gaze seeks the fruit of the tree. That is why Shiva is always bedecked with the seeds of the rudraksha tree. Rudraksha literally means "the gaze of Shiva". In contraste, Vishnu, patron of the outward gaze, is bedecked with leaves and flowers.
Shiva is the greatest Tapasvin. He spends no heat engaging with the outside world. All the heat he generates remains contained within his body. Naturally, the world around Shiva, unseen by him, gradually loses all heat and becomes cold. As a result, water stills and turns to snow. His mountain becomes Himalaya, the abode of snow.