I’ve always been fascinated by the practice of ascetism – mortifying the body to purify the spirit. Hardcore ascetic practices include subjugating the penis, lifting weights with the penis, raising one arm for a period of 6 or 12 years and standing without sitting or lying down for a period of 6 or 12 years. See pictures and excerpts below from this site, which is based on the book below and is one of the most fascinating books I’ve read.

The tapasya of keeping the right arm up—for twelve years or more—may lead to permanent physical damage.
The muscles atrophy, the bones calcify, and the arm withers away, it becomes a useless stick. Ascetics who practise this tapasya are called urdhva-bahu babas (‘vertical-arm babas’) or ek-bahu babas (‘one-arm’ babas). This tapasya has to be completed by bringing the arm down. If this is not done properly, it may result in insanity, or death.

Lifting weights with the penis as done here by Shyam Puri (below), is in essence the same exercise as the chabi (see below). It is a ‘miracle’ that the penis is not torn off. The scene recalls the chains used in the past to weigh down the penis continuously, but this exercise is now only occasionally done, and then for a minute or so. Just long enough to show the sadhu’s power, his transcendence of sexuality.

Lal Baba keeps a special triangular stone for his liñgasana on which is painted “30 kilos”. He has developed this exercise into a regular show and even advertises himself as “liñgasana Naga Baba” on painted boards (in the background). He is a small man so he has to stand on two bricks to lift the stone a few centimetres off the ground. But still, no mean feat: thirty kilos must be more than half his own weight.

A ‘standing’ Baba, who is called khareshwari, has taken the vow not to sit or lie down for twelve years. He may rest one leg by hanging it in the sling under his swing. It is a painful austerity: the swollen legs and feet tend to develop persistent ulcers.

Khareshwaris may walk about, but usually just hang in their swing in their corner—and stand.

The picture above shows Bajrang Das, a ‘standing’ baba, who never sits down, day and night. He sleeps standing too, hanging over this swing. A metal chastity belt covers his genitals.

A tree is the traditional place for the austerity of standing, not only because the swing can be attached to one of the branches, but also because of the baba’s identification with a tree, for it is also termed vrik-asana (or vrikshasana), meaning ‘tree-posture’.
And indeed, the khareshwari starts resembling a tree, his swollen feet look like roots, with a firm grip on the ground.

Although asceticism is fascinating to me, I don’t think I would make a good ascetic. Instead, muser, would make a much better ascetic than me; he practises self denial three times a day by refraining from delicious but unhealthy food.