What Is Ritu Sandhi?
Agni or digestive fire, and Bala or strength, fluctuate throughout the year.
Our bodies need those 14 days to adjust to the changing seasons, 7 days in the outgoing season and 7 days in the incoming season.
Ayurveda refers to these 14 days as Ritu Sandhi or the seasonal conjoint. The aahara (diet) and vihara (daily regimen) for each season are described in Ayurveda.
The rules laid out here must be adhered to. If people in our society don't start following the numerous ritus prescribed protocols, we'll have to deal with the consequences, which may include widespread illnesses like pandemics.
This 14-day period of every ritu is crucial because, during Sandhi Kaal (transitional phase), the body's immune system is weakened, creating ideal circumstances for the spread of disease.
|
Season
|
Digestive fire
|
Strength
|
|
SHISHIR (Winter)
|
High
|
High
|
|
VASANT (Spring)
|
Medium
|
Medium
|
|
GRISHMA (Summer)
|
Low
|
Low
|
|
VARSHA (Rainy)
|
Low
|
Low
|
|
SHARAD (Autumn)
|
Medium
|
Medium
|
|
HEMANT (Pre-winter)
|
High
|
High
|
Importance Of Change in Diet, Lifestyle, And Behaviour During Seasonal Change
Ritu satmya, in Ayurveda, refers to making adjustments to our lifestyle based on the time of year and environmental factors. A proper understanding of this dynamic and adaptable process is essential for wholesome seasonal living.
If a person is fully aware of the reasonable homologation dependent upon his activities and the food he takes and considering this prescribes his diet etc., he or she will only improve their body strength and complexion and develop better resistance to such diseases which occur during these seasonal changes.
Environmental factors directly influenced the physiological components of the human body. Changing seasons make it impossible for humans to maintain a constant environment.
The movement of the Sun, Moon and other planets is beyond his/her control. They have profound effects on human biology. With this in mind, Ayurveda offers a different routine for each season.
The food we eat is broken down by our digestive tract into chemical compounds that fuel our cells. By making some basic adjustments to one's diet and daily routine, Ayurveda explains how to ward off illness and improve one's health.
In preparation for the approaching ritu changes, we must use these 14 days to gradually break the habit of the old ritu and adjust to the new one.
When winter ends and spring begins, for instance, there is a drastic shift from a cold to a warm climate. Coughs, colds, fevers, and difficulty breathing are all typical during this time of year, and the weather is ideal for the spread of viruses like the flu.
In order to avoid this trap, one should progressively reduce their consumption of spicy, oily, hot, pungent, salty, and heavy foods in favor of lighter, colder, sweeter, sourer, and bitterer options.
The Gudi Padwa festival marks the beginning of the new season. For this reason, eating bitter neem leaves that are part of our traditional diet is considered sacred. They help restore equilibrium by reducing excess kapha in the body.
Yet, we must remember that this is merely a symbol and that it instructs us to observe this custom during the entire spring season and not just on Gudi Padwa.
Our Indian culture has long held many such health principles, but they have yet to emerge from the shadows.
As the old adage goes, the only change is permanent. The moral of the story is that if you can't change your external environment, you should work on changing your internal one to stay healthy.
Edited by – Vd. Neelesh Patil