यत् पिण्डे, तत् ब्रह्माण्डे ।
yat piṇḍe, tat brahmāṇḍe
As is the Human body, so is the Universe
'Ritu' means ‘Season’ and 'Charya' means ‘ to observe routine’. The year is divided into two distinct periods or Kaal depending upon the position of the Sun with respect to the Earth.
According to the Ayurvedic texts, the six seasons have been divided into two Kaalas (periods):
Adaan Kaal (North Solstice)
It consists of three seasons X 2 months each
| Visarga Kaal (South Solstice) It consists of three seasons X 2 months |
Late Winter / Shishir (Mid-Jan to Mid-March) | Rain / Varsha (Mid-July to Mid-Sept) |
Spring / Basant (Mid-March to Mid-May) | Autumn / Sharad (Mid-Sept to Mid-Nov) |
Summer / Grisham (Mid- May to Mid-July)
| Winter / Hemant (Mid-Nov to Mid-Jan) |
Body strength is maximum in Hemant and Shishir Ritu
Body strength is medium in Sharad and Basant Ritu
Body strength is minimal in Grisham and Varsha.
Appetite is enhanced in Hemant and Shishir Ritu. At this time, the Earth is away from the Sun making the weather extremely cold and dry. Vaso-constriction of the peripheral blood vessels in our body increases the blood supply to the core organs, thus increasing the metabolism / appetite. Hence, high protein and high calorie diet is recommended in the winter, to prevent depletion of bodily Dhatus and immunity.
Digestion has been given immense importance in the Samhitas. According to Ayurveda, indigestion causes 'Aama' production, which eventually become the cause of all the diseases. 'Aama' is fermented indigested/partially digested food in the gut which leads to production of toxins. Thus, strong digestion helps build a strong immune system.
Hence, drinking warm/hot water (Ushnodak) and using spices that aid digestion, such as ginger, cumin, clove, nutmeg, blackpepper, piper longum and cardamom, support immune function. It is a well known fact that gut has greater than fifty percent of body's immune tissue.
One should consume a diet consisting of Sweet (Madhur), Sour (Amala) and Salty (Lavana) rasas during early and late winters.
Chicken broth/soup sautéed in clarified butter (ghee) or oil, Urad dal, sugarcane juice, jaggery, milk and milk products (dahi / yogurt, matha / butter-mik, sour cream etc. are recommended foods in winters.
This is also a good time to take massages with medicated oils to keep bodily energies from weaning off.
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