9. Ritucarya (conduct during different seasons)

The two Solstices: The year is divided into six seasons. The northward movement of sun and its act of dehydration brings about three seasons beginning from sisira (late winter) to summer. The southward movement of sun and its act of hydration gives rise to the other three seasons beginning with the rainy season to hemanta (early winter). The following table furnishes the details of various seasons: 49) puspita patita kanya lingita sresthajatija | qresi fauai yay: zazi a great aen || 1.3.42

186 Ayana Seasons Uttarayana (adana kala or the period of dehydration) Months according to Indian Calendar 1. Sisira I Magha (late winter) II Phalguna Months according to English calendar January-February February-March 2. Vasanta (spring) I Caitra March-April II Vaisakha April-May 3. Grisma I Jyestha May-June (Summer) II Asadha June-July Daksinayana (visarga kala or the period 1. Varsa I Sravana July-August (Rainy season) II Bhadrapada August-September of hydration.) 2. Sarat I Asvina September-October (Autumn) II Kartika October-November 3. Hemanta (Early Winter) I Margasirsa II Pausa NovemberDecember December-January In the period of visarga or emission (hydration), winds are not very dry as they are during the period of adana or dehydration, The period of emission predominantly shares the qualities of the moon and during this period, the moon, with the unstrained cooling property, continuously delights the world with its soothing rays. The period of dehydration on the other hand, is dominated by the qualities of agni (fire). So, these three the sun, the wind and the moon - being governed by time, nature and the path they follow constitute the causes of time, season, taste in drugs and diet, vitiation of dosas and bodily strength. -

187 Effect of Adana Kala on body : During the period of dehydration, not only the sun with his rays, but also winds with their sharp velocity and dryness, absorb the moisture from the earth. Winds progressively bring late winter, spring and summer, which enhance the bitter, astringent and pungent tastes respectively. all having drying effects and as a result, human beings also become weak. Effect of Visarga Kala on body: During the rainy season, autumn and winter, the sun moves towards the south, and his power of heating is slackened by various factors, viz., the time, course, storm and rain. The moon is, however, not affected. The earth is relieved of its heat by the rain water and drugs having sour, saline and sweet tastes, which cause unctuousness in the body, increase during the rainy season, autumn and winter respectively. As a result of all these, human beings also progressively grow in strength during the period of visarga or emission. During the beginning of the period of emission and at the end of the period of dehydration, weakness prevails in human beings. In the middle of the both, strength becomes moderate. However, at the end of the period of emission and beginning of the period of dehydration, human beings get considerable amount of strength. Dietetics and Regimen for Winter: During the cold winter, the digestive power of human beings possessing good health and strength is enhanced due to the restraint caused upon it by the cold wind, so much so that it is capable of digesting any food stuff irrespective of its heaviness and the quantity. When it does not get the proper fuel, the digestive fire affects the nutritive fluids, resulting in the vitiation of vata having cold quality. Therefore, during the winter, one should take unctuous, sour and saltish juices and the meat of the aquatic and marshy animals which are fatty. One should also eat the meat of burrow dwelling animals and bhrta (a preparation of meat by mincing it) prepared of

188 animals of prasaha type (who eat by snatching). Thereafter, one should drink madira 5⁰ and sidhu types of wine and honey. If one habitually takes preparations of cow's milk, sugarcane juice, fat, oil, freshly harvested rice and hot water during the winter, his span of life is never decreased. In winter, one should resort to massage, unction, application of oil on the head and fomentation by jentaka process. One should reside in an underground residence or inside a heated apartment of the building. In the winter, one should see that the conveyance, bedding and seat are well covered specially by heavy wrappers, skin, silken cloth, ropes and blankets. One should wear heavy and warm clothes and should besmear his body with aguru (Aquilaria agallocha Roxb.). One should embrace a healthy woman with her well developed and plumpy breasts, and with her body besmeared with aguru (Aquilaria agallocha Roxb.). Then he should lie down on the bed intoxicated with strong passion. One may indulge in excessive sexual intercourse during the winter. One should avoid food and drink which are light and which are likely to vitiate vata. One should not expose himself to cold wave. Underfeeding and intake of gruel are also to be avoided. The hemanta (beginning of winter) and sisira (late winter) seasons are almost similar in nature with the only difference that in the latter, dryness caused by adana (absorption) and cold caused by the cloud, wind and rains prevail. So the entire prescription for hemanta (beginning of winter) is to be followed in the sisira (late winter) as well. One should stay in a windless and warm home - more so during the sisira. 50) surasa jayate tena sa manotsavakarini ksudhite bhojanam mistam toyapanam trsaturam | nidadhe sitalam rucyam site dharmah sukhavahah iti matva mahipalo yateta premavardhane || 5.19.1025

189 One should avoid taking such of the diet and drinks as are possessed of pungent, bitter and astringent tastes because they are light and they, therefore, vitiate vata. During sisira, one should avoid taking cold diet and drinks. Dietetics and Regimen for spring : During the spring the accumulated kapha is liquefied by the heat of the sun and as such, it disturbs the power of digestion and causes many diseases. So, one should take therapies like emesis, etc., and should avoid heavy, unctuous, sour and sweet diet. One should not also sleep during day time. At the advent of spring, one should habitually resort to exercise and use unction and collyrium. The excretory orifices should be regularly washed with warm water. One should besmear his body with Candana (Santalum album Linn.) and agurui (Aquilaria agallocha Roxb.) and take food consisting of barley and wheat, meat of sarabha (wapiti), sasa (rabbit), ena (Antelope), lava (common quail) and kapinjala (grey partridge). Dietetics and Regimen for summer: During the summer, the sun evaporates the moisture of the earth by his rays. In that season, the intake of sweet, cold liquid and unctuous diet and drinks is prescribed. One who takes cold mantha (a type of groats) along with sugar as well as the meat of the animals or birds of arid climate, ghee and milk alongwith sali rice (Oryza sativum Linn.) during this season, does not suffer from any disease. One should either drink alcohol in a little quantity or should not drink at all, and even if one drinks, he should drink alongwith plenty of water. One should further avoid taking diets which are salty, sour, pungent or hot. Physical exercise is also to be given up during this season. During the night, after having besmeared the body with sandal paste, one should sleep on the open airy roof of the house which is cooled by the rays of the moon. One, decorated with pearls should be comfortably seated on a chair enjoying fans and the touch of tender hands both cooled with sandal water. One should keep himself aloof of -

190 sexual intercourse and should enjoy gardens, cold water and flowers during this season. Dietics and Regimen for rainy season: In the body, weakened during the period of dehydration the power of digestion is also weakened. It is further weakened due to the vitiation of vata and other dosas during the rains. The power of digestion in this period is also affected due to gas coming out of the earth, rainfall and increase of acidity in water. Consequently, vata and other dosas get vitiated. So it is advisable to be moderate as regards diet and regimen during the rainy season. One should abstain from taking manthra (groats) diluted in excess, day sleep, frosts, water from river, excessive exercise, moving in the sun and indulgence in sexual intercourse. One should liberally use honey in preparing diet and drinks. If the days are cooler due to heavy rains accompanied by storms, one should take such of the diet and drinks as are conspicuously sour, salty and unctuous. This serves as an effective antidote to the vitiation of vata during the rainy season. In order to maintain normal power of digestion, one should take old barley, wheat and sali rice (Oryza sativum Linn.), alongwith the meat of arid animals and vegetable soup. Moreover, one should drink the madhvika or arista types of liquor, pure rain water or water from the well or pond, boiled and cooled, mixed with a little honey. It is advisable to rub the body, apply unction, take bath and wear fragrant garlands during the season. One should wear light and clean apparel and should reside in a house devoid of humidity. arogyamausadhallabhyamayurlabhyam rasayanat | sahasallabhyate siddhih karyasiddhirupayatah || 5.19.976 Dietetics and Regimen for autumn: The body parts adopted for rains and cold are suddenly exposed to the heat of the sun with the

191 beginning of autumn. So, the pitta accumulated during the rains gets generally vitiated. In this season, sweet, light, cold and bitter food and drinks which have potentialities to alleviate pitta are to be taken in proper quantity when there is good appetite. Furthermore, the meats of lava (common quail), kapinjala (grey partridge), ena (antelope), urabhra (sheep), sarabha (wapiti) and sasa (rabbit), rice, barley and wheat are prescribed during this season. Intake of ghee prepared with bitter medicines, purgation and blood letting are also prescribed for this season. One should avoid taking sun bath, fat, oil and meat of aquatic and marshy animals and alkaline, salt preparations and curds alongwith food. One should not sleep during day time and should not expose one to frost and easterly wind. The water is exposed to the heat of the sun during the day time and to the cooling rays of the moon during night. It is purified and detoxicated by star Canopus (Agastya). This is known as hamsodaka which is spotlessly clear and is as beneficial as nectar for the purpose of bathing, drinking and swimming. Use of garlands made of autumnal flowers and clean apparel and also the rays of the moon in the evenings are exceedingly beneficial in this season. Natural urges : The living body has some natural urges. They are the urge for (1) urination (2) defecation (3) sexual intercourse, (4) passing flatus, (5) vomiting, (6) sneezing, (7) eructation, (8) yawning, (9) hunger, (10) thirst, (11) tears, (12) sleep and (13) breathing caused by overexhaustion. They should not be suppressed. Inhibition of these natural urges leads to many complications which are required to be attended to properly. Urge for Micturation Suppression of the urge for micturation causes pain in bladder and phallus, dysuria, headache, bending of the body and distension of the lower abdomen. To overcome these complications caused by the suppression of urination, one should resort to tub bath, massage, nasal drops of ghee and all the three types of enema (basti).

192 Urge for Defecation If one holds the urge for defecation, it causes colic pain, headache, retention of faeces and flatus, cramps in the calfmuscles and distention of abdomen. In such cases, fomentation, massage, tub bath, suppositories and enema should be given and one should take food and drinks which are laxative in nature. The rasayana or the rejuvenation therapies, prescribed in Ayurveda, are meant to remove these defects in the lives of old men. Caraka, while defining the scope of rasayana therapy, has stated that the individual is endowed with longevity, memory, intellect, positive health, youth, excellent complexion, colour of the skin, voice, strength of the sensory and motor organs and lustre by its administration. In brief, the aim of this therapy is to maintain the youth of the individual along with his long life. Instead of a society of old and invalid people, it aims at creating a society of people with youthful vigour - both physical and mental.