| Ritucharya of Ayurveda Healthy Life to combat | | | | disequilibrium in the 3 Doshas Nasyam ( Nasal |
| the changing Seasons Health is the greatest | | | | Medication ) can be done |
| Wealth ( Labhena Sreya Arogyam ) | | | | Eschew Sleep |
| To cope up with the stresses & strains of | | | | Do physical exercise. |
| the changing Seasons – Spring, Summer, | | | | Dry massage. Bath with Sandalwood/ Camphor |
| Autumn & Winter in the Western System | | | | and Kumkum after massage. Greeshma Ritu ( |
| and the Six Ritus in the Indian System ( 2 solar | | | | Summer Season ) |
| sidereal months make a Rithu as per the | | | | Sunrays become powerful. Vata increases & |
| Aphorism " Thau Dhau Rithu " ) – Vasanta, | | | | Kapha decreases day by day. |
| Greeshma, Varsha, Sarath, Hemanta & Sisira | | | | Diet Lifestyle Drink only cold water and take bath |
| – we recommend you observe the | | | | in cold water. Draksha ( Grape Juice ) can be |
| Ritucharya of Ayurveda; for the Sun taketh | | | | taken in along with watermelon juice, pineapple |
| away energy during the Northern Solstice ( | | | | juice etc. Wine should be eschewed as debility can |
| Uttarayana ) and giveth energy during the | | | | be caused by it. If imperative, take only small |
| Southern Solstice ( Dakshinayana ). When | | | | quantities of the blushful Hippocrene. Liquid food, |
| strength is lost from our body during the hot | | | | light food & sweet & fatty foodstuffs |
| season, we have to take in more watery fruits | | | | should be consumed. Boiled rice with Cornflour, |
| and vegetables, lest there be dehydration ! | | | | meat, yoghurt can be taken. Light dresses can be |
| The Vedic Calculation of Time | | | | worn and body can be anointed with sandalwood |
| 4 seconds is called an Asu and 6*4 = 24 such | | | | paste. Cold water bath should be preferred to hot |
| Asus constitute a Vinazhika. 60 such Vinazhikas | | | | water bath. Varsha Ritu ( Rainy Season) |
| make up a Nazhika ( 24 minutes ) and 60 such | | | | As the Jadara Agni weakens furthur and gets |
| Nazhikas ( 24 hours ) make up a day. | | | | vitiated by the Doshas, adopt all measures to |
| One Fortnight is made up of 15 days ( Pancha | | | | reduce the doshas and enhance digestive capacity. |
| Dasa Ahani Pakshah ) & there are two types | | | | Diet Lifestyle |
| of Fortnights – The Bright Fortnight ( | | | | Only easily digestible food should be taken. Soups |
| Shukla Paksha ) & the Dark Fortnight ( | | | | are ideal.Yoghurt, pulses, meat juice – all |
| Krishna Paksha ). Two such Fortnights make one | | | | these can be taken as food. This is the ideal time |
| month and two months make One Rithu ( Tau | | | | to do Detoxification or Panchakarma Therapy |
| Dau Rithu ) . Six months make one Ayana ( | | | | Eschew unnecessary exertion & exposure to |
| Solstice ) ( Shan Masa Ayanam Bhavathi ) . There | | | | the Sun. Also sleep. Sharat Ritu ( Autumn Season |
| are two types of Ayanas, The Northern Solstice ( | | | | ) |
| Uttarayana ) and the Southern Solstice ( | | | | Pitta ( Bile ) become aggravated due to exposure |
| Dakshinayana ). ( Tad Uttaram Dakshinam Cha ). | | | | to Sunlight |
| By the Sidereal Month of Aries, we mean that | | | | Diet Lifestyle |
| the Sun is in Sidereal Aries. ( When viewed from | | | | Heavy food can be avoided at all costs. Also |
| Earth, the Sun seems to be blocking Aries ). The | | | | liquors & curd. Easily digestible food like rice |
| Sanskrit month of Mesha begins on April 14th, | | | | can be taken in along with Honey, Gooseberry |
| which is widely celebrated as Vishu, indicating the | | | | and green gram. It is better to have a hot water |
| Solar ingress into Sidereal Aries. | | | | bath Pitta can be reduced by pearls |
| The Sixfold Seasons caused by Sol | | | | In Sanskrit, Prakrity implies both Nature and Body |
| Ritu Solar Sidereal Month | | | | Constitution. The Changing Seasons of Nature |
| Vasanta Sidereal months of Aries & Taurus | | | | causeth effects on the Five Great Elements ( |
| Greesha Sidereal months of Gemini & Cancer | | | | Earth, Fire, Water, Air & Ether ), by which |
| Varsha Sidereal months of Leo & Virgo | | | | the human body & the Universe are |
| Sarath Sidereal months of Libra & Scorpio | | | | composed. The triune humours, Vata ( Wind ) , |
| Hemanta Sidereal months of Sagittarius & | | | | Pitta ( Bile ) & Kapha ( Phlegm ), should be in |
| Capricorn | | | | equilibrium for perfect health. The changing |
| Sisira Sidereal months of Aquarius & Pisces | | | | seasons can disturb this equilibrium. While cold |
| Ayurveda divides an year into two Semesters or | | | | weather increases Vata, hot climate increases |
| Kalas | | | | Pitta & cold wet weather enhances Kapha ! |
| Aadaan Kaala ( Uttarayana ) ( Northern Solstice ) | | | | Ayurveda, as the complete holistic science dealing |
| Visarga Kaala ( Dakshinayaana ) ( Southern | | | | with Health, prescribes a seasonal routine to |
| Solstice ). | | | | preserve the Doshic Balance, so that you are not |
| It is the King of the Solar Logos, the Sun, which | | | | caught by the vicissitudes of the seasons ! A |
| causeth the seasons & the two Semesters. | | | | unique Diet ( Ahara ), a clear mode of living ( |
| During the Adaana Kala ( Northern Solstice or | | | | Vihara ) & a routine living ( Karya ) is |
| Uttarayana) , the Sun and wind are powerful and | | | | prescribed by this mighty science whose aim is |
| Sol taketh away the strength of the people | | | | the Healing By Consciousness ! |
| & the cooling qualities of Mother Earth. It is | | | | In Kerala only Four Seasons are experienced and |
| the Debilitating period and strength is weakened | | | | during Greeshma, we have to take in |
| generally. During Visarga Kala, Sol releases | | | | watermelon, buttermilk, bananas, jack fruits, |
| strength to the people, Luna becomes more | | | | green leafy vegetables, tomatoes etc. During |
| powerful and the Earth is cooled due to the cold | | | | Varsha, honey can be taken in. Ghee can be |
| wind, the rains and clouds. | | | | incorporated in diet. Take in sweet stuff. Have |
| Semester Season Month Period Properties | | | | warm water & eschew sleep & extra |
| Northern Solstice Sishira Magha & Phalguna | | | | exercise. Cold foodstuffs can be taken in Sharath |
| Mid Jan- Mid March Cold & dewy season ( | | | | Ritu & sleep during daytime should be |
| Adana Kala ) Vasanta Chaitra & Baisakh Mid | | | | renounced. Gooseberry & honey are ideal. |
| Mar- Mid May Spring season ( Sun taketh away | | | | During Hemanta food which holds cold at bay |
| energy ) Grishma Jyeshtha & Aashadha Mid | | | | & increases energy should be consumed. Milk, |
| May- Mid July Summer season Southern Solstice | | | | ghee, rice, wheat – all be taken in. You |
| Varsha Shravan & Bhadrapada Mid July | | | | have to renounce heavy work during the summer |
| – Mid Sep Rainy season ( Visarga Kala ) | | | | season of Greeshma. The digestive capacity ( |
| Sharat Aashvin & Kartika Mid Sep- Mid Nov | | | | Jadaragni ) is weakened consideraby during |
| Autumn season ( Sun giveth energy ) Hemant | | | | Greeshma. We have to offset it by taking in |
| Margshirsha & Pausha Mid Nov to Mid Jan | | | | watery & juicy fruits like watermelon, |
| Winter season | | | | pinepple, cocunuts, oranges & mangoes ! |
| Seasons and Tastes | | | | Greeshma Sidereal Months of Aquarius, Pisces |
| Amongst the tastes, some are more powerful | | | | & Aries |
| during the Seasons & can be incorporated in | | | | Varsha Sidereal Months of Taurus, Gemini & |
| the diet in each of the six seasons. | | | | Cancer |
| Ritu Seasons Powerful Taste | | | | Sarath Sidereal Months of Leo, Virgo & Libra |
| Shisira Cold & dewy season Tikta ( bitter ) | | | | Hemanta Sidereal Months of Scorpio, Sagittarius |
| Vasanta Spring season Kashaya ( astringent ) | | | | & Capricorn FRUITS – THE DIVINE |
| Grishma Summer season Kattu | | | | GIFTS OF NATURE |
| Varsha Rainy season Amala ( sour ) | | | | In VA, Jupiter rules Fruits, which are Nature's |
| Sharat Autumn season Lavan ( salty ) | | | | divine gifts. Organically grown fruits are |
| Hemanta Winter season Madhura ( sweet ) | | | | Naturopathic Medicine as per the Hippocratic |
| Seasonal Regimen | | | | principle "Food is Medicine & Medicine is Food |
| Hemanta Ritu ( Winter Season ) | | | | ". If you want the Grace of Jupiter to shine on |
| Shishira Ritu ( Cold and Dewy Season ) | | | | your Health, go the Jupiterian Way of consuming |
| Diet Lifestyle During this season, digestive acitivity | | | | Fruits ! |
| becomes powerful and sweet, salty & sour | | | | Be a fruitarian & a vegetarian, for cruelty |
| food stuffs can be taken, which will keep in check | | | | begets untold suffering ! |
| the increasing Vata. . Rising vata is obstructed by | | | | Very nutritious and low in calories, Watermelon is |
| cold atmosphere. Wheat/ gramflour products, | | | | high in Lycopene, second only to tomatoes. |
| corn, edible oils & sugarcane products can be | | | | Lycopene can prevent cancer & |
| incorporated in diet. Oil Massage Therapy ( | | | | cardiovascular diseases. |
| Abhyangam Achareth Nithyam ) to be done. | | | | Nature's most labour intensive fruit, Promegrate ( |
| Exercise ( Vyayama ) . | | | | Punica Granatum ) is a medicinal fruit. |
| It is better to clothe oneself in leather, silk & | | | | Nature's Replenisher, Mango, has been grown in |
| wool. | | | | India for the last 5000 years. Mangoes can be |
| Be under the Sun for sometime – Sunlight | | | | round, oval or oblong and there are 500 varieties |
| is rich in Vitamin D – lest you be affected | | | | of mangoes. Select unblemished firm fruit while |
| by the Seasonal Affectional Disorder ( lack of | | | | buying mangoes. It will ripen in 3 to 4 days at |
| Sunlight ) | | | | room temperature and if refrigerated, mango |
| Vasanta Ritu (Spring Season) | | | | keeps going for about a week. |
| During Vasanta Ritu, increased Kapha liquified by | | | | Bananas are Nature's tonic and for the easy |
| the heat of sun causes diminished Jadara Agni ( | | | | digestion and absorption of nutrients, it should be |
| digestive activity ) causing diseases | | | | thoroughly ripened. |
| Diet Lifestyle | | | | ;———— |
| Food becomes easily digestible. Arishta ( | | | | Article by G Kumar, Astrologer , writer & |
| Fermented decoction ), Sidhu ( Fermented | | | | programmer of Recently he was awarded a |
| Sugarcane Juice ), Asava ( Fermented infusion ), | | | | Certificate by the Planetary Gemologists |
| diluted Honey, water boiled with extracts of | | | | Association Global ( ) as a Planetary Gem Advisor. |
| Sandalwood, Mango Juice, Barley, roasted meat | | | | He has 25 years psychic research experience in |
| etc can be taken in. It is better to avoid cold | | | | the esoteric arts. To subscribe to his free |
| food, fatty food & sweet and sour stuff. | | | | informative Ezine, the Z Files subject=SubscribeZF. |
| Such foods can only increase Kapha causing | | | | |