This paper explores the practice of austerities (tapasyā) within the religious regimen of contemporary Indian ascetics. By contextualising tapasyā within the theoretical framework of embodied practice involving ‘sacred pain’, the paper uses ethnographic data to examine the tapasic body—an expression of the ascetic body—and the diverse forms of tapasyā practised by members of specific celibate orders. It investigates the transformative role of tapasyā in ascetic traditions, highlighting its purposes—from body control and karmic purification to acquiring siddhis (supernatural powers)—and noting significant historical shifts. It shows that despite the decline of some traditional practices, tapasyā remains a vital representative of ascetic practices in South Asia, and the tapasic body continues to instil authority within both religious and lay communities, embodying a bridge between the material and spiritual realms.

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Austerity,Bodies,Embodiment,Hinduism,Sacred pain,tapasyā

• Psychology - Social Sciences
• Sociology - Social Sciences
• Social and Economic Geography - Social Sciences
• History and Archeology - Humanities