This document provides seasonal regimens for healthy living according to Ayurveda. It describes the six seasons in India - Vasant, Greeshma, Varsha, Sharad, Hemant, Shishir - and the doshas predominant in each. For every season, it recommends foods to eat and avoid, activities, common diseases, and interventions. The key points are to avoid common disease triggers in each season, gradually adjust between seasonal regimens, and not encourage unhealthy habits long-term. Following the traditional Ayurvedic principles of each season can help maintain health and prevent illness.

1. -RituchaRya-
SeaSonal Regimen
foR healthy living
Dr. Gaurav Sharma, M.D. (Ayu)
Research Officer- Ayurveda
Dept. of AYUSH, Min. of H&FW,
Govt. of India
Email: gaurav.sharma@nic.in

2. Flow of Presentation
• Six Seasons
• Information regarding seasonal division of
Year
• Status of Doshik predominance, Guna, Rasa,
Bala in each Seasons
• Dos and Don'ts of Each season
• Ritu Sandhi (Change of season) & Oak
Satmya
• Summary and Key take out points for each
Season

3. Shad Ritu - Six Seasons
• India is a country blessed with Six different
seasons
Sharad
autumn
Varsha Hemant
Monsoon / Early
Rainy Winter
Greeshma Shishira
Summer Winter
Vasant
Spring

4. Reason Behind Different Seasons on
Earth

5. Kala Vibhajan- Time Division
Akshi Nimesh – Basic Unit of Time in Ancient time
15 Nimesh 1 Kashtha
30 Kashtha 1 Kala
20 Kala 1 Muhurt
30 Mahurt 1 Ahoratra
15 Ahoratra 1 Paksha
2 Paksha 1 Masa
2 Masa 1 Ritu
3 Ritu 1 Ayana
2 Ayana 1 Samvatsar (Varsh)
5 Samvatsar (Varsh) 1 Yuga

6. Indian National Calendar (Saka calendar)
Start date
S.
Month Length (Gregorian Ritu Season
No.
calendar)
1 Chaitra 30/31 March 22
Vasanta Spring
2 Vaishākh 31 April 21
3 Jyaishtha 31 May 22
Grishma Summer
4 Āshādha 31 June 22
5 Shrāvana 31 July 23
Varsha Monsoon
6 Bhādrapad 31 August 23
7 Āshwin 30 September 23
Sharat Autumn
8 Kārtik 30 October 23
9 Agrahayana 30 November 22
Hemant Winter
10 Paush 30 December 22
11 Māgh 30 January 21 Cold & dewy
Sishira season
12 Phālgun 30 February 20

7. Seasonal Division of Year
Samvatsar - Year
• Adan Kala / • Visarga Kala /
Uttarayan Daskhinanyan
Six Months Six Months
1. Magha- Phagha 1. Shravana- Bhadrapada
2. Chaitra- Vaishakh 2. Ashvin- Kartika
3. Jyeshtha- Ashadha 3. Margsheesh- Pausha
Three Seasons Three Seasons
1. Shishir 1. Varsha
2. Vasant 2. Sharad
3. Grishma 3. Hemant

8. Attributes of Adankala & Visargakala
Adan Kala Visarga Kala
• Uttarayan- Agneya • Dakshinayan- Saumya
• Agneya-Agni-guna Pradhan • Soumya- Sheet guna Pradhan
• Vayu- Ati-ruksha • Vayu- not so ruksha
• Moon- Less Bala • Moon- Strong Bala
• Sun- Strong Bala • Sun- Less Bala
• Sun Dries away things • Moon nourishes things
• Ruksha, Tikta, Kashaya, Katu • Snigdha, Amla, Madhur, Lavan
• Gradually Bala lessens • Gradually Bala increases

9. Status of Bala (Strength) During Year
Uttarayana Dakshinayana
Māgh Chaitra Jyaishtha Shrāvana Āshwin Agrahayana
Phālgun Vaishākh Āshādha Bhādrapad Kārtik Paush
Shishir Vasanta Greeshma Varsha Sharad Hemant
Aadi Madhya Anta Aadi Madhya Anta
S
Avara / Lowest T
B R
A E
L Madhyam / Moderate N
A G
T
H
Uttam / Highest

10. Status of Rasa & Bala during Year
Ritu Status of Status of Dryness/ Rasa in Status of Bala
Strength of Strength of Unctuousness Dravyas
Sun Moon
Shishir Poorna Ksheena Ruksha Tikta Shreshtha
Bala
Vasant Poorntar Ksheentar Rukshtar Kashaya Madhyam
Bala
Greeshm Poorntam Ksheentam Rukshtam Katu Alpabala
a
Varsha Ksheena Poorna Snigdha Amla Alpabala
Sharad Ksheentar Poorntar Snigdhtar Lavan Madhyam
Bala
Hemant Ksheentam Poorntam Snigdhtam Madhur Shreshtha
Bala

11. Rhythm of Doshik Sanchaya-
Prakopa-Shamana during year
Dosha Sanchaya Prakopa Shaman
(Accumulation) (Vitiation) (Pacification)
Vata Greeshma Varsha Sharada
Pitta Varsha Sharada Hemanta
Kapha Hemanta Vasanta Greeshma

12. Seasonal variation and internal
chemical environment
• Cellular and humeral immunity is reduced in rainy
season
• Plasma cortisol is elevated in autumn
• Constriction of sodium space is more in summer
season

13. Vasant (Spring)
(Feb.- March to March-April)
• Characteristics: Wind blows towards south,
Accumulated Sleshma (Kapha) undergoes
liquefaction due to strong sunrays.
• Dosha: Prakopa of Kapha
• Bala: Madhyamabala
• Food to be taken: (Yava) Barley, Godhuma (Wheat),
In non-veg- Light cooked meat, fermented beverages
(alcoholic), Shunthi, Motha, Asana saadhit Water

14. Vasant (Spring)
(Feb.- March to March-April)
• Food not to be taken: Heavy, Sour, Sweet, Unctuous
• Activities: Vamana (Emesis), Dry Massage, More
physical activity, Gargling
• Common Diseases: Shwasa, Kasa, Pratishyay
(Respiratory allergies/ disorders), Agnimandhya,
Ajirna etc.
• Common Interventions: Vyoshadi Vati, Lavangadi
Vati, Sitopaladi Churna, Talishadi Churna, Shirishadi
Kwath, Kantaryadi Awleha Trikatu churna, Chitrakadi
Vati, Ajmodadi Churna, Hingwashtak Churna,
Lavanbhaskar Churna etc.

15. Greeshma (Summer)
(April-May to May-June)
• Characteristics: Excessively dry & hot
• Dosha: Vata Sanchaya and Kapha Shamana, due
to excessive dryness
• Bala: Avara (Lowest)
• Food to be taken: Sweet, Cold, Liquid and
Unctuous Drinks & Food items, Manth, Sharbata,
Light cooked non-veg items, Ghrit and Milk,
Plenty of Water

16. Greeshma (Summer)
(April-May to May-June)
• Food not to be taken: Alcoholic beverages, Lavan,
Katu, Amla, Ushna
• Activities: Divaswap- Nap during day time, Stay in
cooled place, indulge in forest, cold water and
flowers. Should not indulge in sexual activity and
excessive physical exertion.
• Common Diseases: Sun stroke, Exhaustion, Aruchi,
Trishna etc.
• Common Interventions: Shadang Paniya,
Amrapanaka, Takra sevan, Sheetal Sharbat,
Ushirasava, Chandanasav

17. Varsha (Monsoon / Rainy)
(June-July to July-Aug.)
• Characteristics: Digestive fire is further weakened,
Water becomes Amlavipaki
• Dosha: Vata Prakopa
• Bala: Alpabala
• Food to be taken: Drinks & Diet mixed with Honey,
Amla, Lavana & Sneha- on the day of excessive
raining to counteract the aggravation of Vata, Old
cereals- Barley (Yava), Godhuma (Wheat), Shali Rice,
Processed Yusha (Soup) of grains, Grape wine and
Arishta (with Honey).

18. Varsha (Monsoon / Rainy)
(June-July to July-Aug.)
• Food not to be taken: Watery demulcent drinks,
Impure / contaminated water
• Activities: Dry massage (Udvartana), Stay in less humid
place, Wearing garlands, perfumes. Avoid day sleeping,
excessive physical exercise, sexual intercourse,
exposure to sun
• Common Diseases: Amlapitta, endemics like cholera,
diarrhea, dysentery, skin diseases,
• Common Interventions: Ushnodaka with honey,
Bilwadi churna, Gangadhar churna, Trikatu Churna,
Haridra Khanda etc.

19. Sharad (Autumn)
(Aug.-Sept. to Sept.-Oct.)
• Characteristics: Sudden re-exposure to sun rays
causes Pitta vitiation
• Dosha: Pitta Prakopa
• Bala: Madyambala
• Food to be taken: Madhura (Sweet), Sheet (Cold),
Laghu, Tikta (Bitter), Shali Rice, Godhuma (Wheat),
Moonga, Yava, Madhu, Ghrita with Tikta (Bitter)
medicaments. Food which subsides Pitta.

20. Sharad (Autumn)
(Aug.-Sept. to Sept.-Oct.)
• Food not to be taken: Vasa (Fatty tissue), Oil,
Meat of aquatic animals, Dahi (Curd), Kshara
(Alkaline preparations)
• Activities: Wearing garlands, Exposure to
moonlight in the night, No day time sleep
• Common Diseases: Amlapitta, Sheetpitta, Kandu
etc.
• Common Interventions: Avipattikar Churna,
Ushirasava, Chandanasav, Madhuyashti Churna
etc.

21. Hemant (Early Winter)
(Oct.-Nov. to Nov.-Dec.)
• Characteristics: Sheetal Vayu, Prabala Jatharagni,
Madhur Rasa Uttapati, Endowed with Strength
• Dosha: Sanchaya- Kapha, Prashaman- Vata
• Bala: Shreshthabala
• Food to be taken: Heavy food (Unctuous), Newly
ripened rice and other grains, Heavy Non-veg
preparations, Snighdha, Madhur, Amla, Lavana,
Wine, Madhu (Honey), Milk & Ikshu (sugarcane)
products, Wine and other alcoholic beverages.

22. Hemant (Early Winter)
(Oct.-Nov. to Nov.-Dec.)
• Food Not to be taken: Vatavardhak, Laghu (Light-
Moonga), Ruksha (Dry- without oil)
• Activities: Oil Massage, Application of Oil over head,
Sunbath, Utsadana (Massage) , Residing in warm
underground chamber, Wearing of heavy, woollen
cloths, use of thick blankets, unlimited indulgence
into sexual activities
• Common Diseases: Sandhi stabdhta, Sandhi shool,
Pratishyay, Swasa, Kasa etc.
• Common Interventions: Chyawanprash,
Ashwagandha Churna, Yograj guggulu, Shilajeet,
Mahanarayan Oil (for L.A.)

23. Shishir (Winter)
(Dec.-Jan. to Jan-Feb.)
• Characteristics: Similar as that of Hemant Ritu but
has more Rukshata, Sheetata, Wind and Rain than
Hemant.
• Dosha: Same as that of Hemant
• Bala: Shreshthabala
• Food to be taken: Same as that of Hemant
• Activities: Same as that of Hemant in addition
remain in Less ventilated and more warm place

24. Ritu Sandhis – Change of Season
• Last Seven Days of out going Ritu and first seven
days of coming Ritu
• Importance- Period of Susceptibility for various
diseases.
• Should not leave the Dos & Don’ts of out going
Ritu at once & Should not switch over to new
Ritu’s regimen suddenly.
• Padansh Krama- Slowly adjust to new regimen.

25. Oka Satmya
• Continuous use of unwholesome will not cause
Vikar immediately due to habituation
• But may cause problems over a period of time
• This is called as Oak Satmya
• It should not be encouraged
• One should try to leave such habits gradually

26. Key Take Out Points
• Varsha- Prevent Amla, Contaminated water
• Sharad- Beware of Strong Sun, Pitta Shamak
Ahar VIhar
• Hemant- Eat Heavy & At will, No Day sleep
• Shishir- Follow Hemant regimen
• Vasant – Vaman; Kapha Prakop is to be
prevented, Use Honey
• Greeshma- Sleep during day time, accumulation
of Vata has to be taken care, Use Sattu &
Sharbat

27. T
H
A
N
K
S