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Ritucharya

(Monthly Regimen)

In Ayurveda, Ritucharya refers to the seasonal regimen, where Ritu denotes season and Charya signifies a way of living or routine. This section in Ayurveda briefs the dos and don’ts to be followed in each season. Ayurveda categorise a year into 6 Ritus (seasons), which means 2 months comprise 1 Ritu.

मासैर्द् विसन्ख्यै माघार्द्यैः क्रमात् षट् ऋतवः स्मृताः ।
शिशिरो अथ वसन्तश्च ग्रीष्मो वर्ष शरद् हिमाः ॥

Winter Season or Hemanta Ritu is between mid-November to mid-January
Winter Season or Shishira Ritu falls between mid-January to mid-March
Spring Season or Vasanta Ritu falls between mid-March to mid-May
Summer Season or Greeshma Ritu is between mid-May to mid-July
Monsoon Season or Varsha Ritu is between mid-July to mid-September
Autumn Season or Sarad Ritu is between mid-September to mid-November and

A person with a red hat and beige coat stands in a snowy forest with arms spread wide, back to the camera.

1. Hemanta Ritu Charya

Ayurveda Winter Regimen

अतो हिमेअस्मिन्सेवेत स्वाद्वम्ललवणात्रसान् ।

Due to strong digestive power, one should consume food predominant with sweet, sour and salty tastes. This will protect body tissues (Dhatus) from destruction.

वातघ्न तैलैरभ्यङ्गं मूर्ध्नि तैलं विमर्दनम् ।

One should do a massage using Vata-alleviating oil, especially on the head. While bathing, use astringent powder to wash away the oil. After a shower, apply saffron powder on the body and then expose it to the fumes of Agarwood (Aguru).

गोधूम पिष्ट माषेक्षु क्षीरोत्थ विकृतीः शुभाः ।
नवमन्नं वसा तैलं, शौचकार्ये सुखोदकं ।

Wheat, black gram, sugarcane, milk, fresh corn, fat, oil, etc, can be used for cooking food. For ablution, use warm water.

Sunset over a bright yellow field of rapeseed or mustard flowers, with a line of dark trees on the horizon.

3. Vasanta Ritu Charya

Ayurveda Spring Regimen

तीक्ष्णैर्वमन नस्यादैः लघु रूक्षैश्च भोजनैः ।

व्यायामाद् उद्वर्तनाघातैर्जित्वा श्लेष्मणः उल्बणं ॥

In the Vasanta ritu, there is liquefaction of the Kapha dosha, which in turn reduces the digestive power and gives rise to diseases. Hence, it is advised to expel the excess kapha through the Panchakarma process, like Nasyam and Vamanam. Also, one should eat foods that are easy to digest and light in fat. Also, exercising and powder massaging, drinking beverages like fermented infusions/decoctions, grape juice, water mixed with honey and water boiled with Nutgrass are advised in this period.

गुरु शीत दिवास्वप्न स्निग्धाम्ल मधुरं त्यजेत् ।

Foods that are hard to digest and cold; day sleeping, foods that are unctuous, sour, and sweet are to be avoided.

4. Greeshma Ritu Charya

Ayurveda Summer Regimen

अतो अस्मिन् पटु कट्वम्ल व्यायामं अर्करांस्त्यजेत् ।

As the sun rays are so intense during summer, Kapha gets weak, and Vata increases in the body. Hence, avoid using salt, pungent and sour foods, and exercise and sun exposure during this season.

भजेन्मधुरसेवान्नं लघु स्निग्दं हिमं द्रवं ।

Foods that are sweet, easy to digest, fatty, cold and liquids should be used. Fermented drinks should be avoided, and if necessary, should be taken in very small quantities or diluted with more water. Alcoholic beverages can cause inflammation within the body, leading to weakness, burning sensation and insensibility.

पिबेत् रसं नातिघनं रसालां राग खाण्डवौ ।
पानकं पञ्चसारं वा नव मृदु भाजने स्थितम् ॥

A bright yellow sunflower and a stalk of wild grass silhouetted against a golden, hazy sunset or sunrise.

Soft-focus close-up of tall pink and white feathery grass heads against a muted, deep green background.

Meat soup, which is not very thick, curds processed in condiments and sugar (Rasala), syrup which is sweet, salty and sour (Raga), syrup which has all tastes (Khandava) and syrup made from dates, raisins, etc (Panchasaram) are advised for drinking.

शशाङ्क किरणान् भक्ष्यान् रजन्यां भक्षयन् पिबेत् ।
ससितं माहिषं क्षीरं चन्द्र नक्षत्र शीतलं ॥

During the night, fried items made from cereals and sweetened buffalo milk, cooled by moonlight and stars, should be used.

5. Varsha Ritu Charya

Ayurveda Monsoon Regimen

आस्थािनं िद्धु तनजु ीणंधान्खयं रसानदकृतानद।
जाङदगलं विवितं यषू ानदम्िररष्टं वचरन्खतनमद।

The digestive fire that got deranged during the summer becomes weaker in the rainy season, which will vitiate all 3 doshas. Hence, proper attention must be given to body detoxification procedures like Vasti (medicated enema therapy). Grains that have been kept for a long time, meat soup, meat of animals living in dry lands, soup made from pulses, fermented decoction, etc, shall be used.

नर्ी जलोर् मन्खथािैः स्िप्न आयास आतिां त्यजेतद।

Avoid river water, beverages made from fermented cereals, day sleep, heavy exercise, and exposure to sunlight.

A person lying down surrounded by large, dark green tropical leaves which cover their eyes for a dramatic effect.

A smiling person in a beige coat and scarf throws a handful of bright orange autumn leaves into the air in a park.

6. Sarad Ritu Charya

Ayurveda Autum Regimen

ततदजयाय घतृ ं वतक्तं विरेको रक्तमोक्षणमद।

To alleviate the Pitta dosha that gets aggravated in the Sarad ritu due to sudden exposure to sunlight after the rainy season. Intake of medicated ghee, which is bitter in taste, purgation, and bloodletting procedures, is to be adopted.

वतक्तं स्िार्ु कषायं च क्षवुधतो अन्खनं भजेतदलघु।
िावल मद्गुं वसता धात्री िटोल मधुजाङदगलं॥

Foods having bitter, sweet, and astringent tastes are to be used. Foods that are easily digestible, rice, green gram, sugar, gooseberries, honey, and the meat of animals living in arid regions, are to be consumed.

िवुच िसं ोर्कं नाम वनमल् ं मलवजतदजलं ।
नावभष्यवन्खर् न िा रूक्षंिानावर्षुअमतृ ोिमं॥

Hamsodaka, the water that gets heated during the day and cooled by the night climate, thus repeated for several days, and that gets detoxified by the rays of Agastya star, is said to be pure and cures vitiated dosha.

तषुार क्षार सौवित्य र्वध तैल िस आतिानद।
तीक्ष्ण मर्द् वर्िास्िप्न िरुोिातानदिररत्यजेतद॥

Avoid cold weather, alkali substances, curd, oil, fat, sunlight, strong liquors, day sleeping, and wind blowing from the east.

नर्ी जलोर् मन्खथािैः स्िप्न आयास आतिां त्यजेतद।
ऋत्िोैः अन्खत्यावर् सप्तािौ ऋतु सवन्खधररवत स्मतृ ैः ।
तत्र ििूा्विवधस्त्याज्यैः सेिनीयो अिरैः क्रमातद॥

The 7 days at the end of a season and the 7 days of the beginning of the next season are known as Ritusandhi (Inter-season). The regimen that was followed in the preceding season has to be stopped, and the regimen prescribed for the succeeding month has to be started during the Ritusandhi to avoid diseases.

Ritucharya