My solitary Himalayan seclusion and purpose of Tap Sadhana
The power of Tap (penance) is immense. Tap means heat. So penance means heating up the self for purification. The greatest of all the powerful elements in this world have their roots in Tap or heat. Sun heats itself up. Thus it is the Lord of the solar system, providing life-energy to all beings. The heating up of the atmosphere in the hot summer results in benevolent rains that provide relief, happiness, and prosperity. When gold is heated it becomes pure and bright, enhancing its value. All the metals coming out of the mines in the form of ores are an impure mixture of dirt, dust and stones. But when melted by heat, the pure metal separates itself from dross and becomes valuable. The unbaked pots, utensils, and toys made of unbaked clay get broken even when slightly hit. But when baked in the kiln they become red and strong; and earthen bricks baked in kilns become strong like stones. The soft limestones become cement when processed by heat and the structures prepared with it last for long durations. The ordinary mica, when heated hundred times in fire, becomes Chandroday Ras, an invaluable Ayurvedic medicine. Only when purified on fire several times, the metals become valuable Bhasma, Rasayan etc. that provide cure and healing for serious diseases. Ordinary grains, pulses, and vegetables in their raw states are tasteless, uneatable and indigestible. But when cooked on fire they become tasty and easily digestible. The soiled dirty clothes, when heated in the washerman's boiler, are washed clean and spotless. The foods we take in are digested by the fire in the stomach (in the form of pancreatic secretions) and help produce blood, bones and
