Sin and penance

Sin is papa, and penance is tapas.

Upanisands treat Tapas  to include an array of ascetic practices: celibacy, fasting, silence, breath control, difficult postured, mortication such as exposure to cold and heat , vaious forms of meditation.

Penance is more important than repentance. Although repentance is important, it alone will not free a person of sin. Manu Smriti, 11.228-234 declares austerity as one of the measures, along with repentance, that the sinner is freed from guilt.

Common penances Hindus perform for reducing accumulated sins or karmaphala are dāna (charity), tapas (auasterities), kriya yoga (studying self and God), pranayama (breath control), vrata (fasting), homa (performing or partaking in a fire ceremony) and japa (recitation of sacred scriptures.)