Human beings are one of the elements of nature. All changes that take place in nature, be it small or large, has an impact on our bodies. The change in nature happens in the form of seasons. In India, we experience Summer, Rainy and Winter seasons. As these seasonal changes alter our environment, they also have a profound impact inside our bodies. Therefore, appropriate changes need to be made in our daily routine i.e in our Dinacharya. To make these changes in our Dinacharya, let’s first understand more about Rutucharyaa(seasonal guidelines).—
Rutucharyaa means following the guidelines according to the Rutu i.e.,season. Before following these guidelines, we must first ensure that the current weather conditions are in accordance with the present season. For instance, July is considered as the rainy season in India. But if there are no showers and it is infact, sunny outside, we must follow the Summer Rutucharya(Greeshma Rutucharya). In short, the weather conditions must be in accordance with that particular season to follow the corresponding Rutucharya.
Another important aspect is the time of season change, known as ‘Rutu Sandhi’. At the cusp of seasonal change, when we move from one season to the next, the chances of contracting various diseases are higher. During this period, we commonly encounter cases of cold, cough and fever. We must ,therefore, slowly reduce the Rutucharyaa of the previous season and gradually adopt the Rutucharyaa of the next season. This period of seasonal change “Rutusandhi” normally spans from the last week of the ending season to the first week of the next season. While looking at Rutucharyaa, we will also be delving into the various festivals, fasts, rituals and traditions that are followed, as these are scientifically based on Ayurveda. In conclusion, the science of Ayurveda is in harmony with our lives in the form of our festivals and traditions.
Dr Mayuresh Aagte