Category: Blog

We perform a lot of activities in our daily lives habitually. We never stop to think or question why we do these activities in a certain way. Our daily meals are one such routine.

There is a certain discipline in our meals. The proportion of Roti, Subji, Bhakri, Chutney, Koshimbir/salad, salt, and ghee are set. In all these hundreds of years, we have never heard of any changes in this proportions, such as Subji in the quantity of chutney or chutney in the quantity of subji. From where do all of these specific, unwritten norms originate? Would it be wrong if we consume our favorite food in any quantity?

Friends, we consume our meals twice a day. However, such questions never come to mind. The reason for this is that we are unaware that our meals follow Ayurvedic rules. Every day we sincerely and unknowingly follow Ayurveda in the form of our meals. Therefore, now we are going to see the Ayurveda behind our daily meals. Having spoken about our eating habits, we are now going towards our next topic, i.e. the meal.

Ayurveda has described how the various tasting foods in our diet have an effect on our body. Various tastes of foods, such as sweet, sour, salty, turat (test of Amla), and bitter, have a specific effect on our body. Considering these effects, the properties of foods and nutrition as the main objective of our diet, various dishes were added to our meals.

Dishes made from foods like wheat and rice are useful in repairing the natural wear and tear of the body. Therefore, the quantity of roti and rice is more in our meals. Various vegetables also serve the same purpose. Hence, its quantity is also more. Sweet foods nourish the body, and hence ‘meals with sweet dishes’ are important in our culture.

Good appetite and good taste in the mouth are necessary to be able to eat properly. Sour-tasting foods are very useful for this. Therefore, we use sour foods such as Lemon, kokum, Tamarind and pickles while cooking as well as in our diet.

No matter how well the food is cooked, without salt its taste will be lost on us. Therefore, we use salt. On the other hand, excessive use of salt can lead to diseases such as skin diseases, blood pressure, swelling on the body, feeling thirsty, and loss of strength. In order to prevent overconsumption, only a very small quantity of salt is placed on our plates.

Just like pickles, we decorate the left side of our plate with Chutney and Koshimber/salad.  Chutney has a spicy flavor. The spicy tasting food enables our tongue to understand and experience taste perfectly.Also, the spicy-tasting food is beneficial in increasing our appetite and maintaining good digestion power. It reduces the Kapha dosha that increases after the meal. Due to all these benefits, foods like chutney are included in our meals. However, consuming spicy foods in excess quantity can harm or result in increased wear and tear of the body. As they are dry in nature, they absorb moisture from the body. Therefore, it is added to our meals in less quantity.  The dryness caused by chutney can be reduced by adding oil to it.

Curd is a not completely banned food in Ayurveda. However, consuming curd in excessive quantity may cause various diseases. Thus, Koshimbir made using curd is served in less quantity on our plate.

Pure ghee is a very beneficial food. Due to the processes involved in making ghee from milk, a lot of nutrients get added to it. Therefore, just a spoonful of pure ghee is extremely beneficial for the nourishment of the body.

All these different types of tastes have a favorable effect on our body. Therefore, our body needs all kinds of food. This is why various kinds of foods are included in our Indian meals. However, many people are used to consuming only one dish just because they like it. In such cases, consuming specific food in excess quantity and not consuming other necessary nutritional foods result in ill effects on the body. The food and every dish in our meal is scientifically approved. Therefore, consuming the food in the right quantity is beneficial for our health. 

Dr Mayuresh Aagte

Yesterday my doorbell rang. Snehal, our neighbour, was standing in the doorway with a worried face. She requested me to quickly accompany her to her home. After dinner, Snehal’s father was feeling nauseous as the food was refluxing back into his throat. ‘Nowadays he is facing this problem frequently. Today it was so much that we had to call you,’ her mother said. Although the medication stopped the problem for the time being, he wanted to have a permanent solution to this issue. Hence, the next day, the entire family sat in front of me.

After checking him, I found that there wasn’t any problem in his body. But upon proper investigation, I found that the problem was in his eating method. Like him, many of us have habits like eating very fast, chatting while eating, or continuously doing movements like standing and sitting in between meals. This frequently leads to issues such as choking while eating, tight stomach, hiccups, feeling that the food refluxing back into the throat immediately after a meal, and sometimes vomiting. We will talk about healthy eating practices in relation to this scenario.

There is no doubt that our lives have now become very fast paced. We can see one of it’s effects in the form of the ‘speedy meal!’ Just like any other task, we feel that it needs to be completed quickly. Thus, the food is literally pushed into our stomachs without chewing properly. Without proper chewing, the food is not broken down into fine particles. Also, the saliva does not act on the food properly. Therefore, good digestion cannot take place. While eating quickly, a small particle of food can choke us sometimes. Also, quick eating habits can sometimes lead to troubles like food reflux back into the throat. Hence, we must always eat slowly. That’s why it is said that we should chew a bite of food 32 times. This may sound exaggerated, but we must understand the essence of this statement. Many times, people give the reasons behind eating quickly, such as lack of time or getting late. These can be easily avoided as it is very important for the sake of our health.

When we say eat slowly, it does not mean that we linger and eat at a very slow pace. If we do so, the food becomes cold and heavy to digest. We have discussed this in our previous article. Also, if we eat very slowly, the food does not get digested properly. As a result, we ought to refrain from eating either very slowly or in a rush. In order to eat the meal at the proper pace, we need at least fifteen to twenty minutes.

Many people are accustomed to chatting while eating their meal. Some are seen constantly moving between the kitchen and the TV (in the living room). In fact, while eating, it is really necessary to avoid these kind of movements. There is a scientific reason behind this. Whenever we do any movement, the blood supply in our bodies increases. During digestion, the stomach organs are already moving. And therefore, when we eat, the blood supply starts towards these organs. At this time, if we talk, walk, laugh, or do any movement, then naturally the blood starts flowing to those organs. By avoiding such movements, there is proper blood supply to the stomach organs.

Naturally, these organs function very well, which leads to good food digestion. Therefore, while eating, it is very important that we remain seated in one place and avoid things like chatting or talking. It is also improper to stand and eat, such as a buffet. Therefore, various practices came into existence to achieve all the benefits. One such behavior is eating while sitting with your legs crossed or folded. It naturally adds stability to the body. A few asanas like Veerasan and Vajrasan are excellent for digestion. The “cross leg” posture also provides such advantages.

Another habit is Vamkukshi or napping after meals. The reason behind this is to avoid unnecessary movements after the meal and give sufficient time for digestion. In fact, it is not possible to take a nap due to our busy schedule. However, we should keep in mind the real purpose of this is to avoid any physical activities or busy movements for at least half an hour  to one hour. All these tips may seem simple and easy. But they contain a deep meaning that leads to our health and well-being.

Dr Mayuresh Aagte

Note : Please use all of the foods/medicines mentioned in this article after consulting with your doctor and taking into account your age and health.

Doctor, actually the mistake is mine. There have been a number of weddings and celebrations in the last month. We constantly had a large number of visitors and family coming in. As a result, we have had delicious dinners almost every day. During this time, I couldn’t control my tongue. I ended up eating till my stomach was full, and now I’m paying the price for it. I’m frequently experiencing problems like sour water in my throat and acidic burps.

Makarand was talking to me with a frustrated face. “It’s okay, sometimes we eat such kinds of foods,” I said. “I understand that doctor. But can you please suggest what I should do henceforth to avoid such troubles? Sometimes, we feast on sumptuous meals during functions. However, how much food should we consume on normal days to avoid such issues?” Makarand asked.

Makarand had  brought up an important diet-related issue. I’ll now discuss Makarand’s problem before moving on to our next topic. After talking about digestive capacity and meal timings, the next crucial subject that we will now discuss is the quantity of food in our diet.

To understand this better we should first take a look at our digestive process. After consuming the food, it enters our stomach. In order to digest the food, it is necessary to break down the food into smaller particles. Therefore, the food is churned and ground in the stomach. Later various digestive juices get mixed to these small particles and then they are digested. In this way various processes like churning, breaking down the food, mixing digestive juices are performed. In order to complete this process, it is necessary to have sufficient space in the stomach. For example, while cooking, if the utensil is filled completely till the brim, we cannot freely stir, sauté and churn. Also, if the amount of food is more, more energy is required to cook it properly.

Also, it takes more time to cook the food. Therefore, while cooking, we always keep some part of the utensil empty. The same thing applies to our stomach also. If our stomach is completely full then it is very difficult for the organs to perform the activities such as churning and digestion properly. This adds stress on the digestive power. It not only delays the process but there is also the risk of food not getting digested properly. Therefore, it is important to keep the quantity of meals limited.

‘Limited’ means exactly how much? The answer to this question will vary from person to person. We have seen the types of digestive power. We have also seen that the quantity of food in our diet changes according to that. However, our ancient authors have analyzed this question and described the answer very beautifully.

We should not consume the food to the full capacity of our stomach. Rather we must consume food up to 3/4^th of this capacity. The 1/4^th part should be kept empty. This empty place actually helps to complete all the activities related to digestion properly. Therefore, it is necessary for each of us  to  think about our diet capacity. It is possible to put this into practice. E.g. if four rotis can fully fill the stomach of a person then, he should consume 2.5 to 3 rotis. In this way we can find out how much 3/4 means by studying our diet. Then we can easily decide the amount of food in our diet. So, when we say ‘limited diet’ we can come up with the correct answer according to our own digestive power. In short, we should always eat two bites less than our full capacity. Whenever we finish our meal, we should feel like we’re still a little hungry.

In Marathi we always say that “Savkash Jeva” means we should eat slowly. At the same, another important meaning of ‘ Sa-Avkash’ which means that we should keep a little empty space remaining upon completing our meal.

Dr Mayuresh Aagte

Note : Please use all of the foods/medicines mentioned in this article after consulting with your doctor and taking into account your age and health.

Friends, after the daily routine(Dinacharyaa), we are now going to talk about the nighttime routine. We have already discussed the diet to be followed at night. The most important part of the night routine is  ‘Sleep’! Therefore, we are now going to discuss about ‘Sleep’.

A lot of body movements happen during the day. Energy is consumed by the body parts during various activities. Our body needs rest to refill this energy and feel refreshed again. This need is fulfilled through ‘sleep’! As all activities are stopped during sleep, it naturally gives time for the body to refill this energy. All of the body’s cells are revitalized, and we get the strength and enthusiasm to work the following day.

Along with these,  one more important benefit of sleep is that it also provides rest to our mind! Our mind is fickle by nature. It is constantly working every moment. We can provide rest to our body, but it is highly difficult for our mind to get rest. ‘Sleep’ is the only element that provides rest to the mind as well. It also refreshes our mind. In this way, sleep refreshes both our body and mind. It motivates us to work again. Therefore, in the old books of Ayurveda, sleep is termed as ‘Bhootdhatri’ means ‘who holds or takes care of the body’. Of course, to get all these benefits it is better to sleep seven to eight hours a day. Depending on an individual’s age and occupation, this may vary. Youngsters naturally sleep more.

Sleep is very important for the development of our body. Elderly people can sleep more than eight hours to reduce the weaknesses and wear and tear of the body that occur due to aging. It would be beneficial for elderly people to get more sleep in case they have fatigue due to illness.

Those people whose occupations involve physical exertion should sleep more. Conversely, less sleep may be sufficient for those who have sitting jobs with no physical exertion. Sufficient amount of sleep may vary from person to person. For some people, less than six hours of sleep could be sufficient. However, some people need a minimum of eight hours of sleep. Therefore, we should decide the amount of sleep by analyzing ourselves.

Just as the sleep should be for the right duration, it should also be a quiet, deep and sound sleep! Upon waking up in the morning, if we feel refreshed, only then can we say that we have had a sound sleep. Continuous dreams or a little sound can disturb sleep. Sometimes, we may wake up and are unable to go back to sleep. These things can lead to symptoms like dullness and feeling sleepy. Therefore,  it is very important to get a quality sleep.

Nighttime is the natural time for sleeping. After the day’s hard work, we automatically feel sleepy. Obviously, when we say nighttime, we do not expect to sleep late at night. It is better to sleep as early as possible! It should be between 9 and 10 pm. However, because of television, we tend to stay up until eleven or twelve. This causes unnecessary stress on our bodies and minds. Our bodies are impacted, even if we are accustomed to sleeping late. Due to this we hear complaints about not getting proper sleep. The time we go to sleep is equally important as how many hours we slept. In this aspect, sleeping and waking up early is beneficial for our body, whereas sleeping late and getting up late is not at all good for our health. We have already seen the benefits of rising early. However, sometimes due to unavoidable reasons we may stay up late. We will discuss this in the next article.

Dr Mayuresh Aagte

Note : Please use all of the foods/medicines mentioned in this article after consulting with your doctor and taking into account your age and health.

Yesterday, I received a call from a friend asking me to visit his home as he needed a checkup. As I entered, the cold air-conditioned room greeted me. “Let’s have tea first, and then we will talk”, he said. As I began walking towards the kitchen, he immediately said, “We don’t need to go too far. I will order the tea from here.” He pressed the bell nearby and soon the tea arrived. He proudly declared while sipping his tea that he is so busy these days that he doesn’t even move out of his chair. His newly purchased air-conditioned car was adding more praise to this talk. He even finished a couple of tasks while talking to me. In the meantime, he received confirmation about the delivery of daily essentials that he had ordered from the store behind his house. I was observing all this silently. “Did you see how I operate from one place?” he asked, proudly. After hearing this and watching the entire scenario, I did not need to check him up at all. I told him, “You have digestion problems, and you regularly deal with issues like gas. Also, you are putting on a lot of weight. That’s why you feel tired on climbing just four stairs. Your Cholesterol and blood sugar levels may be gone up.”

My friend was shocked to hear me say all this, even without a checkup. He had, in fact, called me to address these exact complaints. Friends, I think this friend of mine represents all of us. Due to a lot of facilities at our disposal, physical exertion has been totally left out of our lives. Hence, many lifestyle disease such as Diabetes, Obesity, Digestion disorders, Cholesterol and Joint pain crop up easily. Therefore, we are going to discuss an important part of our Dinacharya(daily routine) i.e. Exercise, for the timely prevention of these kinds of diseases.

In the old books of Ayurveda, the term ‘Exercise’ is defined as ‘the work that will cause physical exertion.” There are numerous benefits of physical exertion. The body feels lighter after exercising. There is no better medicine than exercise which helps to reduce fats getting deposited in the body. The increased fats cause problems like fatigue, dullness and weight gain. We also experience knee pain due to this extra weight. It also increases the possibility of contracting diseases like Diabetes, increased Blood pressure and increased cholesterol. Exercise helps to maintain our body weight. Naturally, the possibility of contracting such diseases is avoided.

Exercise strengthens the muscles in the body. It also helps to maintain the natural flexibility of the muscles. The muscles get toned, which in turn helps to increase our strength. Exercise also increases our capacity to tolerate hard work. It not only helps to endure hard work but also protects our body against various external environmental factors such as the sun, cold, wind, rain, etc.  Exercise helps to improve blood circulation in the body. There is adequate blood circulation and supply to all parts of the body. This keeps them in good health, thereby maintaining the good health of the body.

Exercise has a favorable effect on our digestive power. The exertion caused by exercise demands more food. Naturally, we feel hungrier after exercise. As a result, we consume more food, which is digested properly. This leads to the better nourishment of the body. Exercise keeps us away from complaints like indigestion and gas.

The health of our body and mind are dependent on each other. The strength we get from exercise also strengthens our mind. Exercise also makes us feel lighter, which energizes and inspires our minds. In our fast-paced world, “survival of the fittest” has become the rule. In such a situation, exercise helps to keep the both our body and mind fit.

Dr Mayuresh Aagte

Note : Please use all of the foods/medicines mentioned in this article after consulting with your doctor and taking into account your age and health.

The cold atmosphere outside naturally strengthens the body. In addition to this, we feel hungrier due to the increased digestion power. As a result, food is digested properly and contributes more to the strengthening of the body . Like food, we should also drink water according to our needs. Naturally, we feel less thirsty during this season. Considering the cold environment, we should drink hot tea, coffee and milk. Cold drinks or food stored in the fridge or earthen pot should be avoided.

During this season, along with the diet, our routine is also very important. In this regard, an important part is exercise. It is recommended to wake up early and exercise. We can choose those exercises that are suitable for our body. We can also exercise for a longer duration. The strengthening of our bodies during this time of the year helps us to keep healthy throughout the year.

We have already seen the importance of Abhyang in this season. After abhyanga(Oil massage) we should apply Uttane made from Nagarmotha, Arjun, Kachora, Wala and Sandal. This removes the excess oil from the body. Amla powder is also useful for the same. During this season, it is better to take a hot water bath.

During winter, too much cold water is not recommended. Those who are used to taking cold water baths should at least use warm water. Just as oil in Abhyang, Vaseline and other creams, lotions and gels should be applied to the skin. Overall, it is important to keep the skin hydrated.

A variety of medications are available to help us stay healthy during this winter. Medicines such as Shatawari, Ashwagandha, Yashtimadhu, Vidarikand, Kavachbij, BhuiKohala Talimkhana, Bala, Varahkand, and Musali can be used for strengthening the body. There are medicines that can be used in the form of tonics, such as Ashwagandharishta, Draksharishta, Drakshasav, Shatawari Kalpa, Agasti Rasayan, Ashwagandhadi leh, and Brahma rasayan. Chyawanprash made from Amla is another excellent rasayan medicine. Of course, all these medicines should be consumed after consulting your doctor.

We should dress in warm, silk or woolen clothing to protect ourselves from the cold. The body should be covered as much as possible. Sweaters, jackets, mufflers, hand gloves and Shawls should be used regularly. Helmets should be used while we are on two-wheelers to protect our heads from the extreme cold. Room heaters can be used to keep the house warm. We can make dhoop by burning things like Vekhand, Guggul and Agaru. The Dhupkandi that is available in the market can be used. Sitting under the rays of the morning sun is very beneficial for our health. We should avoid sleeping during the day. Otherwise, there is a possibility of catching kapha related diseases. In this weather, it is better to avoid air conditioners and coolers.

Dr Mayuresh Aagte

Note : Please use all of the foods/medicines mentioned in this article after consulting with your doctor and taking into account your age and health.

Fog lingering till late morning, the gentle light rays of the sun traveling through the fog and the pleasant coolness in the air adds enthusiasm to the atmosphere. The cozy warmth of the quilt in this chilly weather! This is the usual scene of everyone’s favorite season, ‘Winter’! The intensity of the October heat starts to subside in November and is gradually replaced by winter.  As the sun starts to move in the southern hemisphere, the heat in the atmosphere is reduced to a great extent, which in turn increases the coolness in the air. The days begin to shorten, and the nights become longer. 

We have already mentioned about ‘Pitta Prakop’ in our article on Sharad Rutucharyaa. The coolness of winter reduces Pitta Prakop. During this season, the Vaat and Kapha doshas are also in their natural state. Consequently, there is less possibility of contracting an illness during this period. Moreover, the strength of the body naturally increases. This is the reason we call Winter a healthy season, making it a highly beneficial season for our health.

Winter has a favorable effect on our digestive power. The coolness in the air makes our skin contract, which in turn stops the sweating from the body. Due to this, heat is trapped in the body. Hence, the digestive power gradually starts to increase. That’s why we feel hungrier during this time. During the winters, our bodies are capable of digesting any food that is consumed. Therefore, the important part of winter Rutucharyaa is consuming plenty of food. In our diet we should include Roti made from Wheat, Bhakari made from Jowar and Bajra, and Rice. Foods like Mung, Masur, Matki, dried Peas, Gram (Chana) and Chawali should also be consumed.

The strength of the body increases in winter. Considering this, Udid is very beneficial. The foods made from Udid Dal such as Wada and Ladu, are very useful during this season. There is no harm in consuming all the vegetables like Potato, Cauliflower, Cabbage, Carrot, Snake gourd, and leafy vegetables like  Chakwat, Fenugreek, Spinach and Dill. Oil and pure ghee can be used freely while cooking. We can freely consume delicious foods fried in oil. Fried foods like Shev, Chiwda, Chakali, Kadboli, Karnji, Ladu, Shankarpali, Chirote, and Vade are allowed in winter. We do not make such food during other festivals. We make it only during Diwali. Our custom of “Diwali Faral” is based on Ayurveda’s Hemant Rutucharyaa.

We should consume all types of food that taste sweet, salty, sour and spicy. However, sweet foods help in increasing the strength of the body. We can include sweet dishes like Shrikhand, Basundi(Rabdi), Gulabjam, Barfi, Shevai Kheer and Gajar Halwa in our diet frequently. We may also enjoy these dishes at weddings after Tulsi Vivah.

Like sweet foods, non-vegetarian food is also very  useful in increasing the strength of the body. We can include Mutton, Chicken, it’s soups and Fish in our diet. Food made from eggs is also beneficial. Vegetarians can consume nutritious foods such as milk, Paneer, Kharwas, pure Ghee and Malai.

We definitely need to add foods like Ginger, Pudina(Mint), Garlic, Coriander, Curry leaves and Lemon to our diet. All spices such as Cinnamon, Cardamom, Bay leaf, Cummin seeds, Ajwain(Owa), Black Pepper, Coriander seeds, and saffron can be used freely in cooking. All these foods not only increase the taste of the dish but also help in digestion. They also make the food delicious by adding taste and smell to the food.

Another delicacy we may enjoy during this season is ‘dry fruits’! All dry fruits including Cashew nuts, Almonds, Raisins, Walnuts, dried Figs, and dried Dates are particularly useful in strengthening the body. Laddus prepared from Gond (Dinkache) and Ahlieev are also healthy. Fruits such as Apple, Banana, Guava, Pomegranate, Papaya, Orange, Mosambi, Chikku (sapodila), Grapes, and Custard Apple can be included in our diet. We can consume it in the form of juice, Koshimbir, or Rayta.

The food described in this article should be consumed in accordance with your body’s needs and digestive capacity. However, when we feel hungry, we must eat promptly. Not eating when we are hungry may cause harm to the body.

Dr Mayuresh Aagte

Note : Please use all of the foods mentioned in this article after consulting with your doctor and taking into account your age and health.

A beautiful dawn! Rangoli in front of everyone’s doorstep, rows of diyas on windows, decorative lights, crackers and fireworks! A pleasant atmosphere everywhere. Houses are full of guests, with overflowing joy. New clothes and ornaments add more joy to this setting. The aroma of perfume and incense sticks in the air. A variety of sumptuous, sweet and spicy food! Diwali is such a happy and refreshing festival.

The first day of Diwali is ‘Narak Chaturdashi’ . On this day, we wake up early in the morning and take a ‘Abhyansnan’(oil bath). That’s why, on the occasion of ‘Narak Chaturdashi’, we are going to talk about the special ritual of ‘Abhyang’. Diwali is celebrated in the month of October – November. The date changes according to the Panchang. However, during Diwali the amount of heat that was present in October, is decreased. Due to the start of the winter solstice, the days gradually become shorter, and the nights longer. Around the same time, due to the slanted rays of the sun, the heat in the atmosphere reduces and cold begins to set in. Diwali is celebrated in such cold pink weather.

The tradition of ‘Abhyangsnan’ is included in Diwali due to the cold outside atmosphere. This cold temperature affects our skin and makes it dry. With increasing cold,  many problems like cracking of skin may occur . ‘Abhyang’ helps to protect the skin against these effects of the cold. Abhyang means massaging the skin with oil. The oil used in Abhyang removes dryness from skin and restores moisture. The skin that has contracted due to the cold becomes soft and gentle. It also strengthens the skin, makes it refreshed and glowing. It also helps in improving the skin color. It improves the skin’s ability to perceive touch. As we become older, ‘aging’ signs such as skin wrinkles and loose skin begin to show on our bodies. Abhyang postpones the onset of these symptoms.

 Abhyang has many more benefits. In ‘Abhyang’, the oil used is absorbed into the body and strengthens the muscles. It helps to increase the body’s strength. Therefore, wrestlers massage their bodies after exercise. The cool outside temperature causes an increase in Vaat dosha. This leads to problems caused by increased Vaat dosha such as joint paid, knee pain and back pain. The use of Abhyang reduces this Vaat dosha which in turn reduces the diseases caused by it. It increases the heat in the body and helps to protect the body against the cold. Massage is beneficial in reducing fatigue due to excessive physical exertion. It boosts the body’s ability to accomplish physically demanding tasks. It also increases the strength of the body to bear any  external impact. The moisture in the oil used in Abhyang makes the body flexible. The cold season naturally strengthens the body. This oil massage contributes to this strengthening function of nature. Regularly oiling vehicles boosts their operation and longevity. Similarly, Abhyang boosts our body’s strength. It also helps us to maintain our youth for a longer period of time.

There are a lot of benefits of Abhyang. Therefore, the authors of Ayurvedic books have mentioned that it should be done not only during the cold season but also throughout the year. For this reason, it is also included in Dincharya. We can use coconut or sesame oil for Abhyang. Medicated oils like Bala oil and Narayan oil can also be used. During Diwali, scented oils are used for Abhyang. These oils refresh our mind. Such scented oils can be used throughout the year.

If it is not possible to do the Abhyang due to busy mornings, it can also be done at night while watching TV. Actually, it is necessary to massage our entire body. However, if the whole-body massage is not feasible then, we should at least apply a small amount of oil on our body. Oil should be applied on the head, feet and ears exclusively if the body massage is not possible. On the occasion of Diwali, we started talking about Abhyang. We can discuss more about this later.

Dr Mayuresh Aagte

Note : Please use all the medications mentioned in this article after consultation with your doctor

Kojagiri Pournima and the Starry nights in Sharad Rutu

In the last article, we discussed Sharad Rutu in relation to Dasara and Navratri, and the use of Marigold and Apta during these festivals. This gave us a glimpse of the scientific approach behind our Indian tradition. We are going to talk about the Sharad Rutu, under the starry nights of Sharad Rutu.

In the month of October, everybody is exhausted due to the intense heat throughout the day. We feel the heat more after the cool rainy season. Nature has compensated for this trouble by showering us with beautiful starry nights. The starry nights in this season are more picturesque than the nights in any other season. It is because of the pleasant existence of such a starry nights that the phrase ‘Sharadache chandane’(Moonlight of Sharad Rutu) became popular! Moonlight is always considered to be ‘cool’. However, this moonlight in Sharad Rutu is exceptionally cool. Ayurveda has used this coolness of the moonlight to protect our health in the form of ‘Kojagiri Pournima’

In the last article, we saw that increased Pitta dosha can cause problems like body heat and bleeding. The increased heat in the environment aggravates the Pitta dosha. Milk is helpful to reduce such increased Pitta dosha. Milk is cool and Pitta shamak(reducing) in nature. Therefore, the consumption of Milk is very beneficial in this season. Ayurveda has combined the Pitta reducing properties of milk with the soothing starry nights! The cool starry nights in Sharad Rutu also have favorable effects on our health. It helps to minimize the heat caused by the intense sun.

During this season, the entire sky sparkles in moonlight. The consumption of Milk under the moonlight is a perfect approach to protect our health. We should add a lot of sugar when consuming this Milk since sugar is also Pitta shamak(reducing) and cool in nature. Similarly, we should also add foods like Almonds, Pista and dried Dates. These foods help to relieve the fatigue caused by the heat during the day. Furthermore, it adds nutritional value to the milk. Foods like Velachi (Cardamom) are not only Pitta shamak but also provides great aroma to the Milk. The Milk should be boiled properly as it becomes easier to digest. It should then be kept under the moonlight for cooling. After this, it can be consumed. The soothing property of this moonlight has a favorable effect on the Milk. Therefore, consumption of such milk under the moonlight is beneficial in reducing the diseases caused by Pitta dosha. It also helps to reduce fatigue and refresh our bodies.

Ayurveda has used this “Kojagiri Pournima” to achieve all these objectives. The true scientific purpose of Kojagiri Pournima is to protect our health by following this tradition during Sharad Rutu. Of course, it does not imply that we should drink milk only on Kojagiri. Rather we should consume it throughout Sharad Rutu. On the occasion of Kojagiri Pournima, we revisit this tradition of Sharad Rutucharya.

Like the starry nights in Sharad Rutu, one more reference is found about constellation in the ancient Ayurveda books. In the rainy season, the water in rivers and lakes is not suitable for drinking due to contamination. However, by October, the water has been drained. Under the starry night, it becomes cool. Constellation in the sky has an influence on water. As a result, the water becomes purer and more fit for drinking. Around this time, the Agasti star rises in the sky. Under the light of this sky, the water in rivers and lakes becomes more pure and clear. Ayurveda has termed this water as ‘Hansodak’. Hansodak means water that is pure like Hansa(swan) or water suitable for Hansa. It is mentioned in our old books of Ayurveda that this Hansodak should be used for drinking and bathing. 

Friends, I would like to make a different point while describing the water in Sharad Rutucharyaa. Now a days , in any lecture, function or articles, everyone says that research should be done in Ayurveda. Actually, the basic principles of Ayurveda are so firm that research seems to be impossible. Then there are areas, such as water in Sharad Rutu, that can be proven with contemporary techniques like biochemistry and chemical analysis. We may use these approaches to examine the water and determine when it becomes clean in Sharad Rutu. If we continue to test the polluted water and the same water after storing it under the starry nights of Sharad Rutu. These investigations and research may prove the purity and clarity of water. This observation made by our ancestors can be shown ‘on paper’ with the help of modern  techniques . In doing so, the principles of Ayurveda or the ancient sciences can be reconciled without altering their principles and disturbing their values . In this way, Ayurveda may be combined with modern science.

Dr Mayuresh Aagte

Note : Please use all the medications mentioned in this article after consultation with your doctor.

During the rainy season, nature changes its entire appearance. It seems like nature has been reborn. The earth seems to have been laid out with green carpets or our mother nature is dressed in a green saree like a new bride. The incessant rain of July and August slowly decreases in September. The Sun, which was rarely seen during the rainy season, is now slowly showing his presence daily. In early September we normally see the bright yellow sunlight, sometimes cloudy skies along with the occasional mild showers. This hide and seek of sunlight and rains continues for a few days.  As the days progress, the rain decreases and the heat in the environment increases. The intensity of heat is felt more during the entire day. By now, the month of October has started. Due to the scorching heat of October, it is known as “October heat”! During this season, even though the days are very hot, at night nature showers us with the beautiful moonlight. We call this type of weather as “Sharad Rutu”.

During Sharad rutu, the chill of the rainy season reduces and the sun starts to shine brightly, which in turn increases the heat in the atmosphere. This increased heat impacts our body. During the rainy season, along with the Vaat Prakop(Outburst), the Pitta dosha also starts accumulating. We have already seen this in the description of Varsha Rutucharya. During Sharad rutu, the increased heat in the atmosphere pacifies the Vaat dosha. However, it causes eruption of the Pitta dosha resulting in the Pitta Prakop(outburst). Therefore, Pitta related diseases are more likely to occur during this season.

It creates diseases such as burning sensation in the hands and feet, feeling heat in the stomach, acidity, bleeding from hemorrhoids, nose bleeds and Jaundice. Therefore, the main strategy in Sharad Rutu is to prevent Pitta Prakop from occurring.

With this background, our ancestors have chosen plants like Marigold and Apta for Navaratri. There are numerous festivals and poojas throughout the year, but these plants are not as important during those festivals. However, we cannot celebrate Navaratra without them. Our cultures have beautifully combined our body condition during this season with the properties of these plant. These plants play an important role in our health as they are Pitta shamak(Pitta reducing).The juice/extract of the Marigold flower is an excellent remedy for problems like intense body heat, heat in the stomach and acidity. It also immediately stops heat induced bleeding, occurring from any part of the body. The extract of Marigold flower can be used in case of bleeding due to hemorrhoids or nose bleeding. The churna(powder) of Marigold flower is also equally beneficial.

Pure ghee is also an excellent remedy for Pitta related problems. Therefore, extracts or churn(powder) of Marigold flower with pure ghee provides more benefits. The Marigold flower blooms during this period and therefore they are fresh, and their beneficial properties are at their best. This is the main purpose for choosing the Marigold flowers for Navaratra. Like Marigold, the Apta plant used to give as gold during Dasara, is also a Pitta shamak(reducing) plant. It is also useful to stop heat related bleeding. For this reason, both these plants are highly beneficial during the October heat. We bring these plants home for Navaratri. If anyone in the house is affected due to these diseases in Sharas rutu, these plants can be used to control the disease immediately.

Friends, our ancestors have not created these traditions just as a ritual or for promoting superstitions. On the contrary, they have used the “scientific” base of Ayurveda for celebrating such festivals without any problems. Our traditions have survived for years because they are completely scientific.

Dr Mayuresh Aagte

Note : Please use all the medications mentioned in this article after consultation with your doctor.