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Rituchraya

Ritucharya (Discipline as per Season)

Ritu means Season and Charya means discipline or following. Ritucharya is the observance of diet and lifestyle regimen according to the seasonal changes. In Ayurveda, a year is divided into 2 kaala or periods based on the apparent position of the sun towards the north or southern directions. They are known as -
1) Uttaraayana – period when the sun is towards north i.e Northern Solstice
2) Dakshinaayana – period when sun is towards south i.e Southern Solstice
Ayana means journeying.

Uttaraayana or Northern Solstice is also called Aadaana kaala in Ayurveda which means the taking away period. The sun and wind are powerful during this period. The sun takes away the strength and the energy of the people. Due to the heat, air becomes hot and drains out the cooling effect of earth. The atmosphere too becomes hot and dry and due to this, people gets dehydrated and weakened. Dakshinaayana or Southern Solstice is also called Visarga kaala or the giving away period. The moon becomes powerful during this period. Due to cold winds and rain the earth cools down. People regain their energy and strength that was lost during the Aadaana kaala. Each year consists of six Ritus or seasons. Each Ritu comprises two Maasas or months and three such ritus constitute one kaala. Hence Aadaana and Visarga kaalas each consist of six months and three ritus.
The six ritus and their characteristics can be summarized in the following table
The Dosha - Ritu Connection

As we already know, our diet, activities and routine have a direct impact on our health. The environment we live in and the changing seasons also affect our health. The doshas keep changing according to the season. Hence it is important to make some changes in our diet and regimen according to the season. Following the respective Ritucharya builds body's immunity and checks the adverse impact of seasonal changes on body.

Hemanta (WINTER) Ritucharya

In this season the digestive activity becomes more powerful. Vayu is accentuated and needs to be satisfied by a heavy diet.


Hemanta Ritu (Winter Season)

Diet

Lifestyle
  1. Intake of sweet, sour and salty taste foods helps reducing the vaata.
  2. Wheat/gram flour products, milk products, sugarcane products and corn/edible oils can be taken as a part of food.
  3. Carrots, tomatoes, figs, dates, cane sugar, nuts can be taken.
  4. Warm water should be taken as it aids digestion and also increases life span.
  5. Bitter, astringent and pungent food must be avoided
  6. Under feeding / reducing quantities should be avoided
  1. Massage with oil followed by steam bath.
  2. Udvartana with fine paste /powder of kumkum (kesar).
  3. Exercise (vyaayaama).
  4. Clothing should be of leather, silk and wool.
  5. Exposure to sunlight and fire to keep yourself warm.

Sisira (LATE WINTER) Ritucharya (IT’S A HEADING AGAIN)

In Sisira ritu or late winter, the diet and regimen of Hemanta ritu is to be followed

Sisura Ritu (Late Winter Season)

Diet

Lifestyle
  1. Intake of sweet, sour and salty taste foods helps reducing the vaata.
  2. Wheat/gram flour products, milk products, sugarcane products and corn/edible oils can be taken as a part of food.
  3. Carrots, tomatoes, figs, dates, cane sugar, nuts can be taken
  4. Warm wate r should be taken as it aids digestion and also increases life span.
  5. Bitter, astringent and pungent food must be avoided
  6. Under feeding / reducing quantities should be avoided
  1. Massage with oil followed by steam bath.
  2. Udvartana with fine paste /powder of kum kum (kesar).
  3. Exercise ( vyaayaama ).
  4. Clothing should be of leather, silk and wool.
  5. Exposure to sunlight and fire to keep yourself warm.

Vasanta (SPRING) Ritucharya

In this season, increased kapha is liquified by the heat of sun and comes out of its receptacle and spreads all over the body. This causes diminished agni (digestive activity) causing diseases of kapha origin like cold, cough, heaviness and fluid accumulation in the joints, increased phlegm in the lungs,etc.


Vasanta Ritu (Spring Season)

Diet

Lifestyle
  1. Easily digestible food.
  2. Barley, honey, roasted meat, mango juice can be taken as food.
  3. Avoid foods that are hard to digest, cold, sour, sweet and fatty. Such food increase kapha and hence genesis of disease.
  1. Physical exercise.
  2. Dry massage.
  3. Nasal medication can be done after massage and bath with karpura / chandan/kumkum.
  4. Avoid sleep during day
  5. Cut down your smoking habit.

Greeshma (SUMMER) Ritucharya

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 which increased in Vasant is pacified in Greeshma. At the same time, there occurs mild increase of Vaata dosha due to the dryness of the atmosphere.


Greeshma Ritu (Summer Season)

Diet

Lifestyle
  1. Sweet, light, fatty and liquid food can be taken.
  2. Wine should not be taken as it can cause burning sensation and even debility.
  3. Boiled rice , meat, cornflour, curd (yoghurt) can be taken in food.
  4. Drink cold water from mud pot.
  5. Fresh juices and juicy fruits, salads, buttermilk can be taken in abundance.
  1. Anoint body with chandan paste and take bath with cold water.
  2. Stay in cool places.
  3. Wear loose and light cotton dresses to keep the body temperature cool.
  4. Sleep during day is permitted as nights are short.
  5. Too much exertion and sunshine should be avoided.

Varsha (RAIN) Ritucharya

The agni (digestive activity) weakens further and gets vitiated by Vaata. Lack of sunshine and 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)

Diet

Lifestyle
  1. Easily digestible food to be taken.
  2. Pulses, meat juice, soups, old grains and mastu (thin water of yoghurt ) can be taken in food.
  3. Ginger, black pepper and lemon juice may be taken to reinforce appetite.
  4. Leafy vegetables should be taken sparingly.
  5. Foods should be hot and light with ghee, curd and honey.
  6. River water is to be avoided for drinking.
  1. Perfumes can be used.
  2. Avoid sleep in the day.
  3. Avoid exertion and too much exposure to sunlight.
  4. Avoid bathing in rivers
  5. Wear a bit warmer clothes due to cold winds.

Sharad (Autumn) Ritucharya

The dry and hot atmosphere aggravates pitta. Sudden exposure to sunlight after the rains and cool atmosphere increases pitta.


Sarat Ritu (Autumn Season)

Diet

Lifestyle
  1. Ghee processed with bitter herbs can be taken.
  2. Bitter, astringent and sweet taste can be included in food.
  3. Take easily digestible food like rice, green gram, aamla, honey and sugar.
  4. Avoid heavy food, curd, oil, strong liquors.
  1. Udvartan with chandan.
  2. Bath with warm water.
  3. Pearls give soothing effect from aggravated pitta.
  4. Avoid breeze, liquor and sleep during day

Ritu Sandhi and its significance

Sandhi means conjunction. Here Ritu Sandhi is the period of the last 7 days of the present ritu and the first 7 days of the subsequent ritu. For instance, it is Vasanta ritu during Vaishakha month, after which it will be Greeshma ritu during Jyeshta month. So Ritu Sandhi will be the last 7 days of Vaishaaka and the first 7 days of Jyeshta.

During Ritu sandhi the diet and regimen that is being followed should be stopped gradually and that of the subsequent ritu be followed.