Tapas -(Austerity)-Part 3 - Rajasika

"Tapas done for the sake of gaining honour, respect and worship from others and with ostentation, which is unsteady and short lived is called rajasika tapas." (Gita, 17.18)

Rajasika tapas is austerity done with any motive which is tainted with intense passion, ambition and attachment (kama and raga). If we understand the threefold division of the gunas into sattva, rajas and tamas, then the classification of tapas into tamasika, rajasika and sattvika also becomes easy to comprehend.

Rajasika tapas may be considered one step higher than tamasika, but falls short of the ideal sattvika tapas. A characteristic feature of rajasika tapas is pretence, egoism and ostentatious display of religiosity. Faith healers and people who show off their religiosity or disguise themselves in religious robes to make money are examples of this kind of tapas.

You often come across such people in religious or social gatherings who seek attention. They dress in a particular way and speak in a well-practised artificial tone to please others and charm them. Such behaviour reflects a lack of self-confidence and self-respect. They are not happy with themselves and feel reassured only when others recognise them.