तपस्वी

Meaning

The Austere One. Tapasvi is the aspect of Shiva that defines the path of effort. He is the one who sits in the middle of five fires (Panchagni) or meditates on an icy peak without a blanket. This 'heat' is not physical; it is the friction created when you say 'No' to the senses and 'Yes' to the soul. He represents the raw power of willpower. He shows that spiritual growth is not a passive event but a deliberate, fiery process of burning away the dross of the ego.

Story · From tradition

When the demon Tarakasura could only be defeated by a son of Shiva, the gods sent Kamadeva (the god of desire) to break Shiva's deep penance. Shiva was in such an intense state of 'Tapas' that when his third eye opened, it emitted a beam of pure heat that reduced Kamadeva to ash. This story proves that for a Tapasvi, the fire of discipline is always stronger than the fire of lust or desire. He eventually only broke his tapas for the selfless love of Parvati, who performed her own intense penance to match his heat. Source: Linga Purana and Matsya Purana.