anaśana

 Anaśana (अनशन) in Sanskrit refers to abstinence from food or fasting, and can extend to fasting as a form of self-discipline or extreme ascetic practice.

Etymology and Definition

The term anaśana is a compound of an- (negative prefix) and aśana 

(eating or food), literally meaning "not eating" or "without food" 

Wiktionary

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In Sanskrit literature, it is used to describe fasting, abstaining from 

food voluntarily, and in some contexts, fasting to the point of death

as an extreme ascetic or vindictive practice 

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Grammatical Forms

• Noun (neuter): anaśanam — refers to a fast or the act of fasting.
• Adjective: anaśana — describing someone who is fasting.
• Feminine form: anaśanatā — denotes the quality or state of fasting 

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Contextual Usage

• Religious and Spiritual Texts: In Jainism, anaśana is considered 
• an outer penance (part of tapas), representing self-discipline and
• spiritual purification 

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• Literature Examples: Classical Sanskrit texts like the 
• Bhagavata Purāṇa, Daśakumāracarita, and Rājataraṅgiṇī reference
• anaśana to signify fasting or hunger for spiritual purposes 

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• Extreme Cases: In certain texts, the term also refers to fasting
• used as a form of protest or self-inflicted harm, highlighting
• its use in ascetic or ethical contexts 

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Related Terms

• Anāśana: Sometimes used interchangeably due to textual variations, 
• also referring to fasting.
• Cultural Languages: In Hindi and Marathi, anaśana refers simply
• to a fast or hunger strike for protest or spiritual discipline 

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In summary, anaśana in Sanskrit primarily embodies the concept

of voluntary abstinence from food, ranging from daily fasting to

serious ascetic practices aimed at spiritual purification, 

self-discipline, or ethical protest 

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