Lecture Note: “Ritucharya in Hemanta, Shishira, Vasanta and Greeshma” By- Dr. Mangalagowri V Rao

Administrator

3 years ago

Associate Professor, Department of Swasthavritta and Yoga
Faculty of Ayurveda, IMS, BHU, Varanasi

Cold wind in a northeast direction
Dust and smoke are present all round
Sun covered with mist
Lakes tanks etc are covered with ice
Birds like crow, animals like rhino, buffalos, horse and monkey get wild
Flowering season of Lodhra, Priyangu, Nagakeshara
Agni becomes strong as the body conserves heat by constriction.
Heavy food should be consumed to prevent burning away Rasadi Dhatus
Accumulation of Kapha takes place Winter
The earth continues to revolve around the Sun.
On the 22nd of December, the Sun is in the Southern Hemisphere and overhead at Tropic of Capricorn.
The rays fall vertically on the Tropic of Capricorn. Every place in the Southern Hemisphere receives Sunlight for more than twelve hours. At the same time the North Pole is inclined away from the Sun and North Pole is in total darkness.
Other places in the Northern Hemisphere experiences long nights and short days. This time of the year is called winter season in the Northern Hemisphere.
The Northern Hemisphere experiences the winter for three months namely December, January, and February. At the same time the South Pole experiences summer.

Winter, occurring between January thru March. The year’s coldest months are December and January, when temperatures average around 10–15 °C (50–59 °F) in the northwest; temperatures rise as one proceeds towards the equator, peaking around 20–25 °C (68–77 °F) in mainland India’s southeast.

Intake of flesh of aquatic animals, carnivores, like fish, duck, swan etc
Intake of sweet, sour and salt taste food helps reducing the vata
Wine prepared from jaggery (molasses) can be taken
Wheat/gram flour products, milk products, sugarcane products and corn/edible oils can be taken as a part of food
Carrots, tomatoes, figs, dates, cane sugar, nuts to be taken.
Warm water should be taken as it aids digestion and also increases life span.
Diet to be avoided: Bitter, astringent and pungent food must be avoided

Lifestyle to be followed

Massage with oil followed by steam bath
Udvartana with fine powder application of powder of kumkum (kesar).
Fumigation with Kasturi, Agaru
Exercise (vyaayaama).
Clothing-leather, silk and wool.
Exposure to sunlight and fire to keep yourself warm.
Always wear Chappals
Be under the Sun for sometimes – Sunlight is rich in Vitamin D – lest you be affected by the Seasonal Disorder (lack of Sunlight )
Indulgence in sexual pleasure is advised.

Kaphahara Foods

Shuka Dhanya- Yava, Kodrava, Shyamaka, Gavedhuka, Kangu, cheenaka, Jurna, Madhulika, Vajranna, Mahakaya, Neevara
Shimbi Dhanya- Mudga, Adhaki, Masura, Chanaka, Makushthaka, Kulattha, Rajamasha, Nishpava
Shakavarga- Tanduliya, Mulaka, Puthiha, Shigru, Kushmanda, Alabu, Karavellaka, Patola, Vrintaka, Raktavrintaka, Surana
Phalavarga-Dadima, Bilva

Wind in southern direction
Atmosphere pure, forest and garden appear beautiful due to flowering of Palasha, Bakula, Amra, Ambuja, Ashoka etc.
Nightingale and Bhramara make melodious sound
The tree full of tender leaves
Effects on the body
Kapha accumulated during Hemantha gets liquefied and produces many Kaphaja Vyadhis.
Agni diminishes resulting in many diseases

Vasanta Ritu Charya

Diet to be taken: Easily digestible food, Old barley, wheat, honey, meat cooked on direct fire, Mango juice can be taken. Beverages such as Asava (Fermented infusion), Arishta (Fermented dicoction), Mardhvika, Madhava, Honey mixed with water and water prepared with Chandana, Khadira, Musta, Shringavera (Ginger)
Diet to be avoided: Avoid foods that are hard to digest, sweet, cold, fatty, sour foods which increase Kapha.
Lifestyle to be adopted: Vigorous physical exercise, dry massage, nasal instillation, Bath, anointment, with Karpoora, Chandana, Agaru, Kumkuma etc. Touch precious beads (Mani), hear birds singing
Lifestyle to be avoided: Avoid day sleep, direct sun light,

Therapy

Grishma ritu

Features-

Summer or pre-monsoon season:

Lasting from March to June (April to July in northwestern India). In western and southern regions, the hottest month is April; for northern regions, May is the hottest month. Temperatures average around 32–40 °C (90–104 °F) in most of the interior.
Intestinal infections like diarrheas, typhoid, etc. are more during hot seasons as the intestinal resistance is less during hot seasons
People mobility is more and they tend to eat outside as the chances of spread of infections through food and water is more

Effects on the body

Grishma ritu is the season of dehydration, exhaustion, lack of energy and lethargy. During summer, there occurs decrease of kapha due to the heat of the sun and dryness in the air. Hence, the kapha aggravated during Vasanta gets pacified in Grishma. At the same time, there is accumulation of Vata dosha, due to the dryness of the atmosphere.
The Agni (digestive activity) weakens further and gets vitiated by Vata. Lack of sunshine as well as a cloudy atmosphere are uncongenial to health. Hence all methods to mitigate doshas and measures to enhance digestive activity should be adopted.

Varsha Ritu (Rainy Season)

Monsoon or rainy season:

Lasting from June to September. The season is dominated by the humid southwest summer monsoon, which slowly sweeps across the country beginning in late May or early June.

Effects on the body

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