Introduction
Ayurvedic concept for the division of year into six seasons namely Shishira,Vasanta, Grishma Varsha, Sharad and Hemant is based on movement of sun into the northern and southern solastic positions which is called as Adana kala (Utterayana) and Visharga kala (Dakshinayana) consisting of six months in each side. The nomenclature coined as Adana meaning taking away and visarga is for giving of strength and vigor in all living creatures. In Adana kala sun and wind is powerful. During this period sun takes away the cooling qualities of earth due to its scorching heat and strength of the creatures is diminished. In contrast in Visharga kala sun releases the strength to the people by empowering moon and earth becomes cool due to the clouds, rain and cold wind. Hence the varsha ritu or starting of monsoon is the indicator for the appearance of Visharga kala and restoration of lost strength during Adan kala ie Shishir,Vasanta and Grishma ritus.
Climatic division of the year in Bharat- as per Ayurveda
|
Semester |
Season |
Month |
Property |
|
Adana kala (Northern Solastic /celestial sphere)
|
Shishira |
Magha Phalguna (Mid January to Mid March)
|
Cold & Dewy season |
|
Vasanta |
Chaitra,Vaishakha(Mid March to mid may) |
Spring
|
|
|
Grishma |
Jyestha,Ashadha(Mid May to Mid July) |
Summer
|
|
|
Visharga kaala (Southern Solastic/ celestial sphere)
|
Varsha |
Sravan,Bhadrapada(Mid July to Mid September)
|
Rainy Season (Monsoon) |
|
Sharad |
Ashvin, Kartik(Mid September to mid November) |
Autumn season |
|
|
Hemant |
Margsheersha, Paush (Mid November to Mid January) |
Winter season |
Aggravation and Accumulation of doshas during monsoon
Vata:Accumulates during the dry or dehydrating heat of the summer. It becomes aggravated during the rainy (Monsoon) season which causes weakened digestion, acidic atmospheric conditions and gas produced from the earth.
Pitta:Accumulates during the rainy season due to the acidic conditions of the atmosphere and a weakened digestion. It is aggravated during autumn when the heat returns.This occurs after the cooling spell of the rainy season.
Regimen during monsoon: Ayurveda describes aggravation (vitiation) of Vata and accumulation of Pita in Varsha ritu (Rainy/monsoon season).This is the major cause of various diseases occurring during the rainy season. The food and lifestyle should thus be such which helps in balancing Vata and Pitta.
Diet during monsoon: Water available in the reservoirs during monsoon is comparatively heavy to digest and the metabolism is sluggish during this period. An individual is likely to experience loss of appetite. Hence following changes in diet and life style is advisable during monsoon:
1. Consume light and fresh foods prepared from barley, rice and wheat
2. Include cow’s ghee, lentils, green gram, rice and wheat in daily diet.
3. Consume small piece of ginger with rock salt before every meal.
4. Use sour and salted soups of vegetables. Onion and other vegetables.
5. During cooler days due to heavy rains, sour, salty and oily diet preferred.
6. Drinkng of boiled and cooled water mixed with little honey is recommended.
7. Addtion of ginger and green gram in daily diet is beneficial.
8. Eating of warm food and avoiding uncooked foods and salads is better.
9. Drinking of excess of fluids to prevent further slowing down of metabolism is advisable.
10. Avoidance of consuming stale food is beneficial.
11. Consumption of leafy vegetables need to be avoided during monsoon.
12. Avoidance of curds, red meat and any foodstuff, which takes longer time to digest is good during the monsoon. One may have buttermilk instead of curds.
13. Consumption of ‘Haritaki /Harad (Terminalia chebula) with rock salt in monsoon season is beneficial to health.
Life style during monsoon: Consumption of healthy diet only may not provide desired results unless it is supported by lifestyle beneficial for monsoon. Following are the tips for the important changes in lifestyle of rainy /monsoon season.
1. Avoiding sleep in daytime is good as it hampers digestion and slows down the metabolism.
2. Over exertion and over exposure to sun specially in afternoon is required to be avoided.
3. Keep the surrounding dry and clean and not to allow water to get accumulated around.
4. Keep body warm, to protect any attack from viruses as and when body temperature goes down.
5. Avoid entering into air-conditioned room with wet hair and damp clothes.
6. Avoid walking in dirty/dampened water .
7. Feets are required to be kept dry.
8. Avoid getting wet in the rains. However, if it happened, changing into dry clothes as soon as possible is essential in order to avoid exposure from infections, as immunity is naturally low during monsoon
9. Use of Fumigative disinfectant like loban and dry neem leaves for drying cloths and killing insects/bacteria is recommended.
10. Best season for conducting Panchkarma for keeping healthy throughout the year(Sukh chikitsa) .
11. Use of Perfumes is advocated in this season.
NOTE As per Ayurveda abrupt changes of diet and life style suitable for particular season is need to be avoided. The changes must be gradual over a period of 15 days by give up the earlier lifestyle and adopting new one for the acclimatization. If abrupt changes are brought body, may not be able to cope with them and this could lead to problems
