("asceticism of
the five flames") A sort of voluntary physical mortification in which the
individual sits surrounded by four flames, with the fifth fire being the sun
above, commonly performed during the hot season.
Although this practice is no longer common, it is extremely
ancient and is often mentioned as one of the typical ascetic practices in the
puranas and other holy books.
This ceremony is undertaken with the premise that
deliberately enduring pain and/or adversity is a method to develop spiritual,
religious, and magical power, as is the case with all types of physical ascetic
endurance (tapas).
