Ritucharya

The year according to Ayurveda is divided into two kaals:

• Aadaan kaal (Uttarayan) (Northeren Solastice)
• Visarga kaal (Dakshinayaan) (Southeren Solastice).

This division is done according to the position of the sun. Aadaan means taking away and visarga means giving. In aadan kaal, the sun and wind are powerful. The sun takes away the strength of the people and the cooling qualities of the earth. It is the debialiting period. strength is weakened . In Visarga kaal , the sun releases the strength to the people. The moon is more powerful, the earth becomes cooled due to the clouds, rain and cold wind.
A year consists of six ritus (seasons). Each ritu is two masas (months) long. Three ritus (one semester) form a kaal.
The Six Ritus
The six ritus and their properties can be summarized in the following table.

The following table summarizes the tastes which are more powerful and hence can be included in the diet in each of the six seasons.

The Ayurvedic classics give us detailed descriptions of how to maintain a healthy and disciplined lifestyle. According to the science of life, the average span of life for human beings is one hundred years, which may decrease if the prescribed good conduct is not adhered to. The ancient medicinal form suggests that in order to achieve the fourfold objectives of life – dharma (virtuous duty), artha (wealth), kama (enjoyment) and moksha (salvation), we must have good health. To serve the purpose, the Ayurvedic practitioners have formulated a dincharya (in Sanskrit, din means ‘day’ and Acharya means ‘to follow’).

It is believed that the daily routine (dincharya) is formulated to merge the daily cycle with the natural cycle of the Sun, Moon, Earth and other planets in the Solar System. The daily routine includes all aspects of regimen and diet, to stay healthy and happy. The Ayurvedic Rishis have cited dincharya as the healing force, stronger than any other curative medicines. This is the reason why many Ayurvedic texts consist of the dincharya for an average adult. In this article, we have provided description about the daily routine in Ayurveda.

Wake Up
In Ayurveda, the night time is divided into 16 periods, starting from the sunset (of the previous day) to the sunrise of the following day. Ayurveda Rishis suggest that the ideal time to wake up is during the 14th period, which is about two hours prior to dawn, around 4.30am to 5am. This is primarily due to the fact the sattva in the air is at its maximum during the time.

In fact, it is the most fresh and pure time of the entire day. Barring a few exceptions like very young or old people, parents with small children and people suffering from fevers or diarrhea, every one should wake up during the designated time.

After Waking Up
Right after you wake up to start the day, you should take a moment to see your true nature. To serve the purpose, take a short stroll outside your home and soak up the good vibes. Peep through the window to see what life is beyond the four walls of your home. Start your day thereafter.

Eliminate
One of the first things to do after waking up is to empty your colon and bladder. In fact, if you wait to eliminate the waste from your body, you are actually poisoning yourself slowly. Therefore, it is always suggested not to wait until later in the morning or during the day, to defecate.

Clean Yourself
After emptying your colon and bladder, it is the time to clean yourself. Brush your teeth, scrape your tongue and floss your mouth. Wash your eyes with rose water and ears with water. Gargle with warm water. You may also use quarter cup of herbal tea for the purpose. By cleaning your senses, you would be prepared for the day.

Give An Oil Massage
Dryness in the tissues of the skin is a major part of aging. This is the reason why many people show the signs of aging at a very young age. Therefore, abhyanga or oil massage is highly recommended. Typically, a self massage, the morning abhyanga rejuvenates the skin and nurtures your mind and soul.

Exercise
Vyayama or exercise is an important part of dincharya. Physical exercise can be yoga, a walk, tai chi, swim or whatever that provides exercise to your muscles. Not strenuous though, simple exercises would make a huge difference in one person – the exercises would provide one with the much needed energy and activeness for the day.

Take A Bath
Bathing is inevitable in the dincharya, as recommended by Ayurveda. Warm water baths are usually suggested, but you may opt for a shower in cold water as well. Apart from cleaning your body, bathing increases the digestive fire.

Meditate
Meditation refreshes the mind, increases the concentration power and builds the energy needed for the rest of the day. Before trudging into the dining hall, sit in peace for a little while, say, ten minutes.

Breakfast
Your breakfast should be light, with minimal quantity of calories and maximum nutrients. By doing this, you will be able to get the optimum amount of energy needed to stay active until the next meal. Kick-start the day with a healthy breakfast. Be sure not to skip your breakfast, because it is the first meal of your day.

Lunch
Until noon, you would be studying, doing work at your workplace or traveling. After six to seven hours of breakfast, it is the time to have your lunch. Since this is the main meal of the day, you need to eat a nutritious lunch, with moderate calorie intake. After having lunch, it is suggested to go for a little walk, say, for five minutes. This helps proper digestion of food.

Twilight
Twilight is the special time, which is a balance between the day and the night. Evening prayers, meditations should be carried out during twilight, because it is the best time to see your Self.

Supper
Ayurveda rishis used to have supper is between 6 pm and 7 pm. However, it is not practical in this fast moving life. It is still advisable to have dinner before you exhaust completely. After the dinner is over, take a walk for a short while, say, fifteen minutes.

Go To Bed
After having dinner, it is the time to relax. Spend some quality time with your family. Sit back and relax. Read a book or listen to soothing music. This is the time to calm your system down. Therefore, you should have a sound sleep of 6 to 7 hours.