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 >>>>


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