ritucharya, hindu astrology software consultancy and research, eastrovedica                          

 

 Healthy Life to combat the changing Seasons    By 

                                                                                                    

                                                       Health is the greatest Wealth  ( Labhena Sreya Arogyam ) 

 

To cope up with the stresses & strains of the changing Seasons - Spring, Summer, Autumn & Winter in the Western System and the Six Ritus in the Indian System ( 2 solar sidereal months make a Rithu as per the Aphorism " Thau Dhau Rithu " ) - Vasanta, Greeshma, Varsha, Sarath, Hemanta & Sisira - we recommend you observe the Ritucharya of Ayurveda; for the Sun taketh away energy during the Northern Solstice ( Uttarayana ) and giveth energy during the Southern Solstice ( Dakshinayana ). When  strength is lost from our body during the hot season, we have to take in more watery fruits and vegetables, lest there be dehydration !

                                                                                                     

The Vedic Calculation of Time 

4 seconds is called an Asu and 6*4 = 24 such Asus constitute a Vinazhika. 60 such Vinazhikas make up a Nazhika ( 24 minutes ) and 60 such Nazhikas ( 24 hours ) make up a day. 

One Fortnight is made up of 15 days ( Pancha Dasa Ahani Pakshah ) & there are two types of Fortnights - The Bright Fortnight ( Shukla Paksha ) & the Dark Fortnight ( Krishna Paksha ). Two such Fortnights make one month and two months make One Rithu ( Tau Dau Rithu ) . Six months make one Ayana ( Solstice ) ( Shan Masa Ayanam Bhavathi ) . There are two types of Ayanas, The Northern Solstice ( Uttarayana ) and the Southern Solstice ( Dakshinayana ). ( Tad Uttaram Dakshinam Cha ). 

By the Sidereal Month of Aries, we mean that the Sun is in Sidereal Aries. ( When viewed from Earth, the Sun seems to be blocking Aries ). The Sanskrit month of Mesha begins on April 14th, which is widely celebrated as Vishu, indicating the Solar ingress into Sidereal Aries. 


The Sixfold Seasons caused by Sol 

Ritu             Solar Sidereal Month  

Vasanta  Sidereal  months of Aries & Taurus 
Greesha  Sidereal months of Gemini & Cancer 
Varsha  Sidereal months of Leo & Virgo 
Sarath   Sidereal months of Libra & Scorpio
Hemanta  Sidereal months of Sagittarius & Capricorn
Sisira  Sidereal months of Aquarius & Pisces 

 

Ayurveda divides an year into two Semesters or Kalas 

It is the King of the Solar Logos, the Sun, which causeth the seasons & the two Semesters. During the Adaana  Kala ( Northern Solstice or Uttarayana) , the Sun and wind are powerful and Sol taketh away the strength of the people & the cooling qualities of Mother Earth. It is the Debilitating period and strength is weakened generally. During Visarga Kala,  Sol releases strength to the people, Luna becomes more powerful and the Earth is cooled due to the cold wind, the rains and clouds. 

 

Semester Season  Month  Period Properties 

 
Northern Solstice Sishira Magha  &  Phalguna Mid Jan- Mid  March Cold & dewy season
 ( Adana Kala ) Vasanta Chaitra   &  Baisakh Mid Mar- Mid May Spring season
 ( Sun taketh away energy ) Grishma Jyeshtha  &  Aashadha Mid May- Mid July Summer season

Southern Solstice

 Varsha Shravan &  Bhadrapada Mid July - Mid Sep Rainy season
 ( Visarga Kala ) Sharat Aashvin &  Kartika Mid Sep- Mid Nov Autumn season
 ( Sun giveth energy ) Hemant Margshirsha &  Pausha Mid Nov to Mid Jan Winter season

Seasons and Tastes

Amongst the tastes, some are more powerful during the Seasons & can be incorporated in the diet in each of the six seasons. 

 

Ritu

Seasons

Powerful Taste

Shisira

Cold & dewy season

Tikta ( bitter )

Vasanta

Spring season

Kashaya ( astringent )

Grishma

Summer season

Kattu

Varsha

Rainy season

Amala ( sour )

Sharat

Autumn season

Lavan ( salty )

Hemanta

Winter season

Madhura ( sweet )

 

Hemanta Ritu ( Winter Season )

Shishira Ritu ( Cold and Dewy Season )

Diet

Lifestyle
  •  
  • During this season, digestive acitivity becomes powerful and sweet, salty & sour food stuffs can be taken, which will keep in check the increasing Vata. . Rising vata is obstructed by cold atmosphere. Wheat/ gramflour products, corn, edible oils &  sugarcane products can be incorporated in diet. 
  •  
  • Oil Massage Therapy ( Abhyangam Achareth Nithyam ) to be done. 
  •  
  • Exercise ( Vyayama ) .
  •  
  • It is better to clothe oneself in leather, silk & wool.
  •  
  • Be under the Sun for sometime - Sunlight is rich in Vitamin D - lest you be affected by the Seasonal Affectional Disorder ( lack of Sunlight )  

Vasanta Ritu (Spring Season)

  • During Vasanta Ritu, increased Kapha  liquified by the heat of sun causes diminished Jadara Agni ( digestive activity ) causing diseases

Diet

Lifestyle
Food becomes easily digestible. Arishta ( Fermented decoction ), Sidhu ( Fermented Sugarcane Juice ), Asava ( Fermented infusion ), diluted Honey, water boiled with extracts of Sandalwood, Mango Juice, Barley, roasted meat etc can be taken in. It is better to avoid cold food, fatty food & sweet and sour stuff. Such foods can only increase Kapha causing disequilibrium in the 3 Doshas 
  • Nasyam ( Nasal Medication ) can be done
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  • Eschew Sleep 
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  • Do physical exercise.
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  • Dry massage. Bath with Sandalwood/ Camphor and Kumkum after massage. 
  •  

Greeshma Ritu ( Summer Season )

  • Sunrays become powerful. Vata increases & Kapha decreases  day by day.

Diet

Lifestyle
          Drink only cold water and take bath in cold water. Draksha ( Grape Juice ) can be taken in along with watermelon juice, pineapple juice etc. Wine should be eschewed as debility can be caused by it. If imperative, take only small quantities of the blushful Hippocrene. Liquid food, light food & sweet & fatty foodstuffs should be consumed. Boiled rice with Cornflour, meat, yoghurt can be taken. 
  • Light dresses can be worn and body can be anointed with sandalwood paste. Cold water bath should be preferred to hot water bath. 
  •  

Varsha Ritu ( Rainy Season)

As the Jadara Agni weakens furthur and gets vitiated by the Doshas, adopt all measures to reduce the doshas and enhance digestive capacity. 

Diet

Lifestyle
  • Only easily digestible food should be taken. Soups are ideal.Yoghurt, pulses, meat juice - all these can be taken as food. 
  • This is the ideal time to do  Detoxification or Panchakarma Therapy 

          Eschew unnecessary exertion &         exposure    to the Sun. Also sleep. 

  •  

Sharat Ritu ( Autumn Season )

  • Pitta ( Bile )  become aggravated due to exposure to Sunlight 

Diet

Lifestyle
  • Heavy food can be avoided at all costs. Also liquors & curd.

          Easily digestible food like rice can be taken in along with Honey, Gooseberry and green gram. 

  • It is better to have a hot water bath 

          Pitta can be reduced by pearls 

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  •  

 

In Sanskrit, Prakriti implies both Nature and Body Constitution. The Changing Seasons of Nature causeth effects on the Five Great Elements ( Earth, Fire, Water, Air & Ether ), by which the human body &  the Universe are composed. The triune humours, Vata ( Wind ) , Pitta ( Bile )  & Kapha ( Phlegm ), should be in equilibrium for perfect health. The changing seasons can disturb this equilibrium. While cold weather increases Vata, hot climate increases Pitta & cold wet weather enhances Kapha !  

Ayurveda, as the complete holistic science dealing with Health, prescribes a seasonal routine to preserve the Doshic Balance, so that you are not caught by the vicissitudes of the seasons ! A unique Diet ( Ahara ), a clear mode of living ( Vihara ) & a routine living ( Karya ) is prescribed by this mighty science whose aim is the Healing By Consciousness !  

In Kerala only Four Seasons are experienced and during Greeshma, we have to take in watermelon, buttermilk, bananas, jack fruits, green leafy vegetables, tomatoes etc. During Varsha, honey can be taken in. Ghee can be incorporated in diet. Take in sweet stuff. Have warm water & eschew sleep & extra exercise. Cold foodstuffs can be taken in Sharath Ritu & sleep during daytime should be renounced. Gooseberry & honey are  ideal. During Hemanta food which holds cold at bay & increases energy should be consumed. Milk, ghee, rice, wheat - all be taken in. You have to renounce heavy work during the summer season of Greeshma. The digestive capacity ( Jadaragni ) is weakened consideraby during Greeshma. We have to offset it by taking in watery & juicy fruits like watermelon, pinepple, cocunuts, oranges  & mangoes ! 

 

Greeshma  Sidereal Months of Aquarius, Pisces & Aries
Varsha  Sidereal Months of  Taurus, Gemini & Cancer
Sarath  Sidereal Months of Leo, Virgo & Libra
Hemanta  Sidereal Months of Scorpio, Sagittarius & Capricorn 

 

                                         FRUITS - THE DIVINE GIFTS  OF NATURE 

 

In VA, Jupiter rules Fruits, which are Nature's divine gifts. Organically grown fruits are Naturopathic Medicine as per the Hippocratic principle "Food is Medicine & Medicine is Food ". If you want the Grace of Jupiter to shine on your Health, go the Jupiterian Way of consuming Fruits ! 

Be a fruitarian & a vegetarian, for cruelty begets untold suffering ! 

 

Very nutritious and low in calories, Watermelon is high in Lycopene, second only to tomatoes. Lycopene can prevent cancer & cardiovascular diseases.

Nature's most labour intensive fruit, Promegrate ( Punica Granatum ) is a medicinal fruit.

Nature's  replenisher, Mango, has been grown in India for the last 5000 years. Mangoes can be round, oval or oblong and there are 500 varieties of mangoes.  Select unblemished firm fruit while buying mangoes. It will ripen in  3 to 4 days at room temperature and if refrigerated, mango keeps going for about a week. 

Bananas are Nature's tonic and for the easy digestion and absorption of nutrients, it should be thoroughly ripened.