Ritucharya

The term ‘ritucharya’ is derived from two different words ‘ritu’ meaning season and ‘charya’ means ‘regimen’. Seasonal regimen prescribed for preservation of health and prevention of diseases is termed as ‘ritucharya’. Ayurveda, the science of life defined the human body (sharira) is always in a state of change towards degeneration called as sharira (human body) [Vaidyaka shabdasindhu]. Ancient scriptures were aware of astronomy; they keenly observed the change in seasons with respect to the sun, moon, stars, wind, and rainfall. The concept of “yat pinde tat brahmande‘- whatever there is in the environment is also there is the human body is applied in understanding health. This leads to appreciating changes in the human body according to seasons and regimens are made accordingly. The seasonal regimen's main aim is to prevent diseases due to the derangement of dosha. Hence ritucharya is one of the ways to be in synchronize with ever-changing nature and being healthy all at the same time.

Contributors

Section/Chapter/topic	Concepts/Ritucharya
Authors	P.Sudhakar Reddy1 Beena MD2 Nimmi A.N.1
Reviewer	Basisht G.3,
Editor	Deole Y.S.4
Affiliations	1 Department of Post Graduate Studies in Swasthavritta, JSS Ayurveda Medical College, Mysuru, Karnataka, India 2 Department of Post Graduate Studies in Kayachikitsa, JSS Ayurveda Medical College, Mysuru, Karnataka, India 3 Rheumatologist, Orlando, Florida, U.S.A. 4 Department of Kayachikitsa, G. J. Patel Institute of Ayurvedic Studies and Research, New Vallabh Vidyanagar, Gujarat, India
Correspondence emails	drpsreddy05@yahoo.com, carakasamhita@gmail.com
Publisher	Charak Samhita Research, Training and Development Centre, I.T.R.A., Jamnagar, India
Date of publication:	December 13, 2022
DOI	10.47468/CSNE.2022.e01.s09.121

Utpatti (derivation)

The term ritu is derived from the root word ‘Ru’, which means to go. Ritu represents the form in which nature expressed itself in a sequence in specific conditions of two months duration (Amarakosha).

Nirukti (etymology)

In Ayurveda, the season is represented by the term kala. Kala is a broad term. In one context it is mentioned as seasons, while in some other context, it merely represents time. The term ritu is the most suitable term to explain seasons. The term ritu refers to a specific period having a cyclic rotation. In the context of ritucharya, ritu is mentioned as the term in which nature expresses itself in sequence, in specific forms of a two-month duration (dvau masau). [A.Hr. Sutra Sthana 3/1 Hemadri]. Charya means regimen or action. Dalhana defines ritucharya as the regimen that should be followed concerning seasons.[Su.Sa. Sutra Sthana 6/1 Dalhana] Vagbhata defines it as the changes in diet and practices with respect to changes in climate conditions like heat, cold, rain etc. [A.Sa.Sutra Sthana 3/1 Hemadri]

Concept of ritucharya (seasonal regimen)

The concept of ritucharya is applied in healthcare management in various aspects as below.

Seasonal regimen:

The strength and lusture is enhanced by following suitable diet and regimen for every season. [Cha. Sa. Sutra Sthana 6/3] The year is divided into six parts according to seasons. The northward movement of the sun and its act of dehydration brings about three seasons beginning from late winter to summer. The southward movement of sun and its act of hydration gives rise to the rainy season to early winter. [Cha. Sa. Sutra Sthana 6/4] Qualitative dietetics includes the wholesome and unwholesome diet and lifestyle regimen as per seasons. [Cha. Sa. Sutra Sthana 6/51]

Seasonal purification:

Purpose of seasonal purification procedures is to maintain normalcy of dohsa, dhatus in different seasons. One should eliminate the accumulated dosha in the first month of spring, rainy and winter. [Cha. Sa. Sutra Sthan 7/46]. To prevent seasonal diseases, doshas accumulated during hemanta (December – February) be eliminated in the month of Chaitra (March-April). Those accumulated during summer(April-June) in the month of Shravana (July-August). The dosha accumulated during railny season (August- October) should be eliminated in the month of Margasheersha (November-Octomber)[Cha.Sa. Sutra Sthana 7/45]. The elimination therapies should be administered only in seasons with moderate heat and cold nature. In other seasons having extreme cold, heat or rain, such therapies should not be administered. Moderate seasons are enjoyable and they do not adversely affect the conditions of the body and drugs. [Cha. Sa.Vimana Sthana 8/126] However, in emergency situations, when the therapy is utmost needed, one should administer the therapy with great care after modifying the seasonal effects sufficiently by artificial means, producing qualities contrary to the seasons and by making the measure appropriate in standard potency with variation in combination, processing and quantity. [Cha. Sa.Vimana Sthana 8/126]

Seasonal conditions in nasal administration therapy:

In summer, the nasal administration therapy should be given in the morning. In winter, it should be given during mid-day. In rainy season, it should be given when the sky is clear and not cloudy. In the case of an emergency, it can be given in the seasons other than early rains, autumn and spring by artificially creating the congenial environment [Cha. Sa. Siddhi Sthana 2/23]

Ritusandhi (period of climatic transition):

The last seven days of a season and the first seven days of the next season is considered as period of transition of climate (ritusandhi). In this period, one should taper the regimens of the previous season and practice those of the next season in a gradual, phased manner. Immediate abandoning and adoption of regimens causes various diseases due to improper adoption. [A.Hr. Sutra Sthan3/58]

Seasons, constellations and Sun signs:

When the sun is in aries and taurus constellations, it is greeshma ritu (summer April-May). When in Gemini and cancer, it is pravrit (early rains, June-July). When in leo and virgo, it is rainy season, (August-September). When it is in libra and scorpio, it is sharada (Autumn, October-November). When it is in sagitarrus and capricorn, it is Hemanta (winter, December-January). When the sun is in aquarius and piscus, it is vasanta (Spring, February-March). [Sha.Sa.2/25-26] This also identifies sunsigns according to the birth.

Concept of Yamadamshtra:

The last eight days of kartika masa (third week of November) and the first eight days of avagrahayana (fourth week of November) are known as yamadamshtra kaala. During this period, one can be healthy if he takes only small quantity of food. [Sha.Sa. 2/30]

Concept of ritu haritaki:

Seasonal changes shall be considered while taking some medicines for specific actions. A person, who wishes to attain the vitalizing actions of haritaki shall consume it with specific substances as per seasons. Haritaki shall be taken with salt during rainy season, with sugar during post monsoon period, with dry ginger during winter, with pepper during autumn with honey during spring and with jaggery during summer [Bha.Pra.Purva khanda 6/34]

Table: Anupana according to seasons for consuming haritaki

Ritu (season)	Anupana(vehicle)
Varsha(rainy)	Saindhava lavana (rocksalt)
Sharada(autumn)	Sharkara (sugar)
Hemanta (winter)	Shunthi (dry ginger)
Shishira(late winter)	Pippali (long pepper)
Vasanta(spring)	Madhu (honey)
Grishma (summer)	Guda (jaggery)

Epidemic or diseases affecting communities (Janamara)

The concept of seasonal regimens is applied to understand epidemics, their spread and favourable factors for their transmission. If the specific climatic characteristics are not observed in a season or abnormal features are observed, then it can be an alarming sign of an epidemic. Abnormal climatic conditions can favor the transmission of diseases. For example, when in any particular region, the cloud does not rain in rainy season, but rains in the winter season; it is in such times of seasonal derangement that the epidemic or the killer diseases of population commences or sets forth its activities. [Bhe. Sa. Sutra Sthana 13/8]

Remedies for epidemic:

During the epidemic, one shall follow fasting, keep high mental strength by avoding negative emotions, engage himself in offering worships, prayers, saluting the preachers (brahmin) and requisite inchantations of (mantras) and drugs. [Bhe. Sa. Sutra Sthana 13/9]

Autumnal fever:

Body is unable to cope up with suddent climatic changes. By sudden increase in heat at the end of the rainy season, pitta gets mobilized and aggravated. This leads to fever that occurs mostly in the early winter. This is called sharada jvara or autumnal fever. [Bhe. Sa. Sutra Sthana 13/10]

Prevention of occurrences of diseases :

Taking honey habitually in rainy season, ghee in autumn , varuni (a type of alcohol preparation) with gandhaka in shishira (late winter), grape juice in spring and drinking milk in summer prevent the occurrence of diseases due to seasonal variations. [ Bhe. Sa. Sutra Sthana 14/16-17]

Importance of ritucharya

Kala or time constantly makes change in everything, so it is also known as ‘parinama’. This change brings abnormality or excellences of all substances including dosha, dhatu and rasa etc. This kala is the cause for division of seasons (ritu vibhaga), which directly influences the body strength (deha bala), and digestion (agni bala) etc. So, if one who follows the regimens prescribed under each and every ritu, such person is never afflicted with seasonal diseases. He always remains as a healthy person. [Yogaratnakara 1/830]

Division of seasons

Season is defined as a division of the year. It is based on the changes in weather, ecology and the number of daylight hours in a given region. Seasons are the result of earth’s orbit around the Sun and Earth’s axial tilt relative to the ecliptic plane. In temperate and polar regions, the seasons are marked by changes in the intensity of sunlight that reaches the earth’s surface, variations of which may cause animals to undergo hibernation or to migrate and plants to be dormant. various cultures define the number and nature of seasons based on regional variations. As such there are a number of both ,modern and historical cultures with varied number of seasons. The northern hemisphere experiences more direct sunlight during May, June and July as the hemisphere faces the sun. The same is true of the southern hemisphere in November, December and January. It is earth’s axial tilt that causes the sun to be higher in the sky during the summer months, which inceases the solar flux. However due to seasonal lag, June, July and August are the warmest months in the northern hemisphere. While December, January and February are the warmest months in the southern hemosphere. In temperate and sub-polar regions four seasons based on the Gregorian calendar are generally recognized spring, summer, autumn and winter. .

The Year is divided in to six season(six ritu)

Solstice	Indian season (Ritu)	Month as per Hindu calender	English month	English Season
Nothern solstice (Adanakala/Uttarayana kala)	Shishira	Magha–Phalguna	Mid January - Mid March	Late winter
	Vasanta	Chaitra Vaishakha	Mid March - Mid May	Spring
	Grishma	Jyeshtha Ashadha	Mid May – Mid July	Summer
Southern solstice (Visarga kala/Dakshinayana)	Varsha	Shravan a Bhadrapada	Mid July - Mid September	Rainy / monsoon
	Sharad	Ashwini Kartika	Mid September - Mid November	Atumn
	Hemanta	Margashirsha Pushya	Mid November - Mid January	Early winter

Seasons across globe:

Many parts of the world have four seasons in a year. They are spring, summer, autumn & winter. The weather is different during each season. As weather changes, plants change too and animals change their behavious to suit the weather. In spring, weather begins to get warmer and trees and other plants grow new leaves. Summer is the hottest season with long and usually sunny days. In the autumn the weather becomes mild and leaves starts falling from many types of trees. Winter is the coldest season, with short days.

Four season model

Northern hemisphere	Southern hemisphere	Start date	End date
Winter	Summer	1st December	28th February
Spring	Autumn	1st March	31st May
Summer	Winter	1st June	31th August
Autumn	Spring	1st September	30th November

Indian Seasons model

Season	Months	Features
Winter	December – February	Coldest months, average temperature around 10-15 oC
Summer or Pre-monsoon	March - May	Hottest month is April in western and south region. In north region, May month is hottest. Temparature will be around 32-40oC
Monsoon or rainy	June to September	Dominated by humid, monsoon begins from north India and south India receives more rainfall
Post-monsoon or autumn	October – November	October and November are usually cloudless in north-west. Tamilnadu receives most of its annual precipitation in north-east monsoon season

General charactristics of seasons

1. Winter
   Weather is cold, the air or wind element is high. So one should stay nourished and warm, and work on increasing physical stamina. Apply sesame or almond oil to Skin and hair to prevent the tissues from drying.
Diet: 
• Eat fats and foods like homemade butter, ghee, olive oil, dry fruits, dates and honey.
• Mustard, spinach, fenugreek, amaranthus, chinopodium, beens, raddish, carrots, onion , garlic, ash guard, yam.
• Fruits like Orange, guava, strawberrys, grapes, figs and Indian gooseberry & hot beverages

Lifestyle :

• Warm water for drinking & bath.
• Physical exercise.
2. Monsoon
   There is wet, cloudy weather, the element of fire is disturbed, which affects the digestive power. In this season, immunity is at its lowest.
Diet: 
• Prefer foods that are sour, salty, and greasy.
• Freshly-cooked warm meals shall be taken.
• Include ginger, lemon, and cinnamon in diet.
• Vegetables like gourds, okra, colocasia leaves can be taken.
• Fruits like apple , custard apple and stone fruit (drupe)
• Avoid raw and uncooked meals
• Avoid overeating

Lifestyle :

• Less physical exercise and avoid barefoot walking
3. Summer
   During this season fire and air energies dominate, inside and outside the body. This gives rise to heat and dryness. So it is important to keep light and hydrated.
Diet: 
• The foods consumed should be light, cool and non-greasy.
• Include more fresh fruits, veggies, juices, herbs and leafy greens, pumpkin, brinjal, jackfruit mango, melons, Indian blackberry, cashew , palm fruit and lots of coconut water
• Avoid sour and spicy foods.

Lifestyle :

• Avoid physical exercise or if needed less physical exercise shall be followed.
4. Autumn :
   In this season the temperature starts falling gradually and the day light is less. Leaves on the trees turn yellow, orange, red and brown during autumn. The autumn months are the time of the harvest season
Diet: 
• Vegetables like spinach, cabbage, cauliflower, beets, broccoli. Fruits like apples, lime, figs, grapes, blackberries, plums

Lifestyle :

• Waliking, jogging or mild physical exercise

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