Seasonal Regimen

Seasonal Regimen/ Seasonal Routine/ Rhitu-Charya:

 

The ‘northward movement of the sun’ (Uttarayana) and its act of dehydration brings about three seasons beginning from ‘late winter’ (Shishhir) to ‘summer’ (Grishma).

The ‘southward movement of the sun’ (Dakshinayana) and its act of hydration give rise to the other three seasons beginning with the ‘rainy season’ (Varsha) to ‘early winter’ (Hemanta).

Effect of ‘Uttarayana’ (northward moment of the sun) on body:

During the period of Uttarayana not only the sun with its rays, but also winds with their sharp velocity and dryness, absorb the moisture from the earth. Winds progressively bring about dryness in the atmosphere during the three seasons of this period, viz. late winter, spring and summer, which enhance the bitter, astringent and pungent tastes respectively- all having drying effects and as a result, people also become weak, that’s why this period is called as ‘Adana Kala’

Effect of ‘Dakshinayana’ (southward  moment of the sun) on body:

During the rainy season, autumn and winter, the sun moves towards the south, and its power (of heating) is slackened by various factors, viz. the time, course, storm and rain but the moon is not affected. The earth is relieved of its heat by the rain water and (herbs having) sour, salty and sweet tastes which cause unctuousness in the body grows during the rainy season, autumn and early winter respectively. As a result of all these, people also progressively grow in strength, that’s why this period is called as ‘Visarga Kala’.

In the beginning of the period of ‘Visarga Kala’ and the end of the period of ‘Adana Kala’, weakness prevails in people. In the middle of the both, strength becomes moderate. However, at the end of the period of ‘Visarga Kala’ and beginning of the period of ‘Adana Kala’, people get considerable amount of strength.

Classification of Seasons:

Ayana:	Uttarayana OR	The period of Dehydration OR	Adana Kala
Seasons:	Shishhira (Late Winter)	Vasanta(Spring)	Grishma(Summer)
Months according to Hindu Calendar:	Magshirsh- Posha	Maah- Falgun	Chaitra- Vaishakha
Months according to English Calendar:	11th Dec. – 10th Feb.	11th Feb.- 10th April	11th April- 10th June

Ayana:	Dakshinayana OR	The period of Hydration OR	Visarga Kala
Seasons:	Varsha (Rainy Season)	Sharada (Autumn)	Hemanta (Early Winter)
Months according to Hindu Calendar:	Jyeshtha- Aashadha	Shravana- Bhadrapada	Aaso- Kartaka
Months according to English Calendar:	11th June- 1oth August	11thAug.- 10th Oct.	11th Oct.- 10th Dec.

Dietetics and Regimen for Early Winter (Hemanta):

Do’s:

During the early winter, the digestive power of the people (human beings) possessing good health (strength) is enhanced and it is capable of digesting any food stuff irrespective of its heaviness and the quantity. When it does not get the proper fuel the ‘digestive fire’ (‘Agni’) starts to digest the nutritive fluids and body elements.
Therefore, during the winter one should take the unctuous, sour and salt juices of the meat of aquatic and marshy animals which are fatty. One should also eat the meat of burrow-dwelling animals and the meat of animals of ‘Prasaha’ type (who eat by snatching). Thereafter, one should drink ‘Madira’ and ‘Sidhu’ types of wine and honey.

If one habitually takes preparation of cow’s milk, sugar-cane juice, fat oil, new rice and hot water during the winter, his life span is never get decreased.

In winter one should resort to massage by Ayurvedic oils and Ayurvedic herbal powders, head massage, hot fomentation and reside in an underground residence and/or the inner heated apartment of a building.

In the winter one should see that the conveyance, bedding and seat are well covered specially by heavy wrappers, skin, silken cloth, ropes and blankets. One should wear heavy and warm clothes and should apply paste made by ‘Aguru’ (Aquilaria agallocha) along with water.

One should embrace a healthy woman with her well developed and plumpy breasts, and with her body besmeared with ‘Aguru’ (Aquilaria agallocha), then he should lie down on the bed intoxicated with strong passion. One may indulge in excessive sexual intercourse during the winter.

Don’ts:

One should avoid food and drink which are light and are liable to vitiation of ‘Vata’ Dosh (a body humor).

One should not expose to cold wave.

Underfeeding and intake of gruel are also to be avoided.

Dietetics and Regimen for Late Winter (Shishhira):

Do’s:

The ‘Hemanta’ (early winter) and ‘Shishhira’ (late winter) are almost similar in nature with the only difference that in the latter, dryness caused by absorption and cold caused by the cloud, wind and rains prevail. So the entire prescription for ‘Hemanta’ (early winter) is to be followed in the ‘Shishhira’ (late winter) as well.
One should stay in a windless and warm house- more so during the ‘Shishhira’ (late winter).

Don’ts:

One should avoid taking such of the diets and drinks which are light and possessed of pungent, bitter and astringent tastes.

During ‘Shishhira’, one should avoid taking the cold diets and drinks.

Dietetics and Regimen for Spring (Vasanta):

Do’s:

At the advent of spring, one should habitually resort to exercise, udvartana (massage by Ayurvedic herbal powders), dhumpan (Ayurvedic smoking), kaval-graha (gargling), and anjana (collyrium).

The excretory orifices should be regularly washed with luke warm water.
One should besmear/apply paste of ‘Chandana’ (Santalum album/ Sandalwood powder) and ‘Aguru’ (Aquilaria agallocha) on his body.

One should take food consisting of barley and wheat, meat of ‘Sharabha’ (Wapiti), ‘Shasha’ (Rabbit), ‘Ena’ (Antelope), ‘Lava’ (Common quail) and ‘Kapinjala’ (Grey partridge).

One should drink ‘Sidhu’ and ‘Madhvika’ types of wine.

Don’ts:

During the spring, the accumulation of ‘Kapha’ Dosh (a body humor) is liquefied by the heat of the sun and such disturbs the power of digestion and causes many diseases. So, one should administer therapies like ‘Vamana’ (therapeutic emesis) etc. and should avoid heavy, unctuous, sour and sweet diets.

One should not also sleep during day time.

Dietetics and Regimen for Summer (Grishma):

Do’s:

During the summer, the sun evaporates the moisture of the earth by its rays. In this season, the intake of sweet, cold, liquid and unctuous diets and drinks are prescribed.

One who takes cold ‘Mantha’ (a type of groat) along with sugar as well as the meat of the animals or birds of aried climate, ghee (clarified butter) and milk along with ‘Shali’ type of rice (Oryza sativum), does not suffer from any diseases.

During the daytime one can sleep in an air-cooled apartment. During the night, after applying the paste of ‘Chandana’ /sandal-wood powder (along with water), one should sleep on the open airy roof/ open balcony of the house which is cooled by the rays of the moon.

One decorated with pearls should be comfortably seated on a chair enjoying fans and the touch of tender hands.

One should enjoy gardens, cold water and flowers during this season.

Don’ts:

One should either drink alcohol in a little quantity or should not drink at all and even if one drinks, he should drink along with plenty of water.

One should further avoid taking diets which are salty, sour, pungent or hot.

Physical exercise is also to be given up during this season.

One should keep himself away from sexual intercourse.

Dietetics and Regimen for Rainy Season/ Monsoon (Varsha):

Do’s:

The body is weakened during the previous ‘Period of Dehydration’/Adana Kala, the power of digestion is also been weakened. It is further weakened due to vitiation of ‘Vata’ Dosh (a body humor) and other Doshas during the rains. The power of digestion in this period is also affected due to gas coming out of the earth, rainfall, increase of acids & minerals in the rain water and consequently ‘Vata’ Dosh (a body humor) and other Doshas get vitiated. So it is advisable to be moderate as regard to diet and regimen during the rainy season.

One should generally use honey along with preparing diets, drinks and others.

If the days become cooler due to heavy rains accompanied by the storms, one should take such of the diets as are conspicuously sour, salty and unctuous; this serves, as an effective antidote to the vitiation of ‘Vata’ Dosh (a body humor) during the rainy season.

In order to maintain normal power of digestion one should take old barley, wheat and ‘Shali’ rice (Oryza sativum), along with the meat of arid animals and vegetable soup.

Moreover one should drink the ‘Madhvika’ or ‘Arishta’ type of wines, pure rain water or water from the well or pond- boiled and then cooled, mixed with little honey.

It is advisable to rub the body, apply ‘udvartana’ (Ayurvedic herbal powders) on the body, take bath and wear fragrant garlands during the season.

One should wear light and clean apparel and should reside in a house devoid of humidity.

Don’ts:

One should give up from taking ‘mantha’ (a type of groat) diluted in excess, day sleep, frosts, water from river, (excessive) exercise, moving in sun and indulgence in sexual intercourse.

Dietetics and Regimen for Autumn (Sharada):

Do’s:

The body parts adopted for rains and cold are suddenly exposed to the heat of the sun with the beginning of autumn so the ‘Pitta’ Dosh (a body humor) accumulated during the rains gets generally vitiated. In this season; sweet, light, cold and bitter foods and drinks which have potentialities to alleviate ‘Pitta’ Dosh (a body humor) are to be taken in proper quantity when there is good appetite.

Furthermore, the meats of ‘Lava’ (Common quail), ‘Kapinjala’ (Grey Partridge), ‘Ena’ (Antelope), ‘Urabhra’ (Sheep), ‘Sharabha’ (Wapiti) and ‘Shasha’ (Rabbit), rice, barley and wheat are prescribed during this season.

Intake of Ghee (clarified butter) prepared with ayurvedic herbs which are bitter in taste, ‘Virechana’ (therapeutic purgation), ‘Siravyadha’ (bloodletting) are also prescribed for this season.

The water is exposed to the heat of the sun during the day time and to the cooling rays of the moon during night, it is also purified by time and is detoxicated by star Canopus (‘Agatsya’), this is known as ‘Hamsodaka’ which is spotlessly clean and is and is as beneficial as nectar for the purpose of bathing, drinking and swimming.

Use of garlands made of autumnal flowers and clean apparel and also the rays of the moon in the evenings are exceedingly beneficial in this season.

Don’ts:

One should avoid taking sun bath, fat, oil and meat of aquatic and marshy animals and alkaline salt preparations and curd in food.

One should not sleep during day time and should not expose himself to frost and easterly wind.