The ‘kala’, ‘samaya’ is divine. It has neither a beginning nor an end. ‘Kala’ follows the accumulated effect of actions of the past. The movement of the sun, moon, planets, & panchamahabhuta depends on ‘kala’. It is the causative factor for the birth and the death. The movements and the changes in the environment depend on ‘kala’ only. To understand the season, this kala has been classified into six ‘rutus’ by our respected Acharyas, witnessing the changes in the season & depending on the natural designer wear worn by the mother earth, which is evidenced as the changes in the environment and weather.

Each day is a celebration, with sun rise the birds start singing to awaken the living things. Each ‘rutu’ is welcomed with a celebration of festival. Every year it is renewed with celebration indicating the unity in diversity. These celebrations help in personal and social development, not only with humans, but also with the other living & non–living things in the universe, automatically directing towards our big, prosperous & infinite family ‘Vasudaiva Kutumbakam’. The ‘rutus’ with masa in co-relation called western-modern month.

Features of the season & few festivals

Here our journey begins from Dasara to Deepavali, which are celebrated in Ashwayuja masa. Bali padya  & Tulasi vivaha is celebrated in Kartika masa.

Dasara and Deepavali festivals are celebrated in ‘Sharad rutu’. During this rutu, there are environmental changes, which is directly proportionate to the human beings and of course in other living beings and celestial forms also, as the statement ‘loka desham idam deha desham’ by our acharyas. In this rutu moon is big & near to the earth, so moonlight is high and strong. This rutu comes under visarga kala or dakshinayana, which is a soumya kala as sun moves towards south/dakshina- sun rays are not very strong compared to the adanakala or uttarayana. Thus it is soumya kala. Medium strength is observed in the nature as well as in living beings.

Environmental changes: Weather is cold, cold wind, external temperature is between 35 to 32 degree centigrade in day time and 28 to 0 degree centigrade in night time, but varies from place to place depending on geographical placement. Everywhere greeneries with a thin layer of white on top, as though mother-nature is wearing green sari & white blouse. Days are ruled by sun & nights are ruled by moon & stars. Thus days are hot and nights are cool. Nights are bigger than the days. Natural stored water in river, ponds, lakes and sea gets hot in day and cold in night & detoxified by agatsya & pushya nakshatras – a natural process of pasteurization. Such water is called Hamsodaka. Hamsodaka is healthy water for all purposes.

Physical changes in Human beings: Digestive power (jataragni) is moderately powerful. Strength is medium in body. Skin gets dry due to exposure to cold wind especially from the east. Among doshas, pitta vitiation is more. If not controlled or not balanced, leads to pittaja disorders namely – digestive disorders, skin disorders, blood disorders.

Mental changes in Human beings: Mental strength begins to increase. It is best time for tapas that is, meditation or self-concentration. However, daily practice of meditation is like food to the brain.

General indicated foods to consume: Shali a variety of rice, Mudga/Green-gram, Sita-variety of sugar/jaggery, Amalaki/Indian gooseberry, Patola/Ashgourd, Ridge gourd, Bitter gourd, Ghrita/Ghee, Madhu/Honey. Seasonal available, depending on geographical place – fruits, vegetables & nutritional food is advisable for consumption.

Sleep: after enjoying exposure to moonlight, one has to consume cow’s milk exposed in moonlight minimum for 1hr. Thereafter one can sleep in well ventilated moonlight flowing room in supine posture or left lateral posture covering with soft sheet up-to the neck & on soft but sturdy stable bed. Day time sleeping is contra-indicated, except old people, who are suffering from disease and night shift professional people.     

During this rutu, it is advised to undergo virechana karma to control or to balance the pitta in the body. Following the schedule of rutucharya (seasonal schedule for food & life style) gives an immense health both physically and mentally.

Festivals celebrated: Main festivals Dasara-Dasahra-Navaratri-Vijayadashami & Deepawali, Bali padya and Tulasi vivaha are celebrated by everyone.

 Dasara-Dasahara-Navaratri-Vijayadashami

 After giving shraddhanjali to our fore-fathers on Mahale amavasya, Navaratri begins with ghatasthapana, the first day of dasara. This festival gives message to win over self demons in the form of  Kama/Mana/Nirlajja- excessive desires/vanity/shamelessness, Krodha-excessive revengeful anger, Moha/Atiraga-excessive attachment, Madha-excessive pride- self boasting, Lobha– excessive storage without using, Matsara/Irshya– jealousy, Swartha- selfishness, Anyaya-injustice, Amanavata-Parapeeda-inhumane-cruelty, Ahankara-excessive ego-treating others as slaves. Defeating these 10 demons for the, self up-liftment is the main goal. Thus named as, ‘dasha-hara.’ Dasha means 10 & hara means to defeat. Even small demons like Bhaya- fear, Anartha vachana-lies, Shoka and negative thoughts should not be allowed enter our body. 

Our Acharyas have named this as sukhayu. Sukhayu means self-growth & development- physical, mental & spiritual.  Defeating these demons is not an easy task. We need extra energy/shakthi, which is available in the universe during navaratri. Therefore shakthi pooja is carried out during this period. All goddess are worshipped during this period in the form of Saraswathi, Lakshmi, & Kali- Durga and finally Gowri which is a soumya/soft nature.

Ayudha pooja indicates worship of our profession, In short, it is invoking shakthi, one feels or experiences bliss. This blissful nature is celebrated as vijaya dashami by exchanging shami or kanchanara leaves indicating pure gold/purity with people around us as a marker of imbibing celestial divine qualities on 10^th day of dasara.

Deepavali:

This festival gives the message of enlightenment. ‘Deepa’ indicates inner knowledge of humanity-humble, love & compassion. After defeating the demons, we receive the brahma-jnana or inner knowledge, provided if practised well with complete involvement. Vali indicates multiple or lines of sharing or connecting, so deepavali festival of lights. It is a personal as well as social celebration of lighting lights- Jyoth se jyoth jalathe/lagathe chalo….Prem ki ganga bahathe chalo….making us a vishwa-manava again unites all in a big family Vasudaiva kutumbakam. So as a respect to our lord Krishna and as an indication of enlightenment deepa/lights are lighted. And fire crackers are burned.

  During this festival abhyang snana is done to maintain the strength of the body and to balance the bhrajaka pitta present in the skin. Sweets are shared with all. All these celebration brings satiation and bliss to all. This is called as hithayu. This indicates social well being. This festival teaches us the lesson of sharing. Humans are sangha jeevi, that is maintaining healthy relation with the society. That is good relation with all in the universe.

 There is one negative aspect of fire crackers burning, that is burns and suffocation, which is, called as dagdha & dhoomopahata mentioned by our acharya Sushruta. Everyone should be care full while handling these fire crackers. ‘It is everyone’s duty to protect our surroundings against sound pollution and air pollution especially during deepavali’.  Ayurveda teaches all to live happily with a healthy life style by following the rutucharya from personal level to social level including spirituality.

Dr. Bharathi.D.A.
HOD, Professor, Dept of Prasoothi Tantra & Stree-Roga,

S.D.M. INSTITUTE OF AYURVEDA & HOSPITAL, Bengaluru-560074,
ph: 080-22718025, Mob: +91 98864 10690

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