Tapasyā—austerity; voluntary acceptance of some material trouble for progress in spiritual life.Prabhupada ›Glossary›-T-›Tapasya-austerity; voluntary Tapasya-austerity; voluntary acceptance of some material trouble for progress in spiritual life. Link to this page: https://prabhupadabooks.com/glossary/t/tapasya-austerity-voluntary-acceptance-of-some-material-trou Previous: Tapasvis-persons who undergo severe penances for elevation to higher planets. Next: Tapas-austerity or penance. There are many rules and regulations in the Vedas which apply here, like rising early in the morning and taking a bath. Sometimes it is very troublesome to rise early in the morning, but whatever voluntary trouble one may suffer in this way is called penance. Similarly, there are prescriptions for fasting on certain days of the month. One may not be inclined to practice such fasting, but because of his determination to make advancement in the science of Krsna consciousness, he should accept such bodily troubles when they are recommended.