Ayurvedic Routine according to Season
The year according to Ayurveda is divided into two kaals:
- Aadaan kaal (Uttarayan) (Northeren Solastice)
- Visarga kaal (Dakshinayaan) (Southeren Solastice).
This division is done according to the position of the sun. Aadaan means taking away and visarga means giving. In aadan kaal, the sun and wind are powerful. The sun takes away the strength of the people and the cooling qualities of the earth. It is the debialiting period. strength is weakened . In Visarga kaal , the sun releases the strength to the people. The moon is more powerful, the earth becomes cooled due to the clouds, rain and cold wind.
A year consists of six ritus (seasons). Each ritu is two masas (months) long. Three ritus (one semester) form a kaal.
The Six Ritus
The six ritus and their properties can be summarized in the following table
|
Kaal (Semester) |
Ritu (Season) |
Maas (Month) |
Properties of the season |
|
Aadaan (Northeren Solastice) |
Sishira |
Magha and Phalguna (mid January to mid march) |
Cold and dewy season |
|
Vasanta |
Chaitra and Baisakh (mid March to mid May) |
Spring season |
|
|
Grishma |
Jyeshtha and Aashadha (mid May to mid July) |
Summer season |
|
|
Visarga (Southern Solastice) |
Varsha |
Shravan and Bhadrapada (mid July to mid September) |
Rainy season |
|
Sharat |
Aashvin and Kartika (mid September to mid November) |
Autumn season |
|
|
Hemant |
Margshirsha and Pausha (mid November to mid January) |
Winter season |
Seasons and Tastes
The following table summarizes the tastes which are more powerful and hence can be included in the diet in each of the six seasons.
|
Ritu |
Seasons |
Powerful Taste |
|
Shishir |
Cold and dewy season |
Tikta (bitter) |
|
Vaasant |
Spring season |
Kashaya (astringent) |
|
Grishma |
Summer season |
Kattu |
|
Varsha |
Rainy season |
Amala (sour) |
|
Sharat |
Autumn season |
Lavan (salty) |
|
Hemanta |
Winter season |
Madhura (sweet) |
Seasons and Doshas
Vata dosha accumulates during the dry or dehydrating heat of the summer .It becomes aggravated during the rainy 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.
Kapha accumulates during the cold season due to the cold and damp caused by the winds, clouds, and rain. It gets aggravated during the spring when the warm weather liquefies the accumulating Kapha.
Seasonal Regimen Continue >>>>
PRESENT SEASON IS :