Changes

Pravrta or Pravrsha in Samskrit refers to the rains. Rtu or Rutu or Ritu means season. Thus Pravrt or Pravrsh is the rainy season or monsoon in Bharata. In Ayurveda, along with the mention of 6 Rtus and their [[Rutucharya (ऋतुचर्या)|Rutucharya]], Pravrt season has also been specifically mentioned and do's and dont's in this season have also been suggested by acharyas. Acharya Sushruta in [[Sushruta Samhita (सुश्रुतसंहिता)|Sushruta samhita]] has given this high importance and counted Pravta/pravrsha along with Varsha Rtu under the 6 seasons list while skipping Shishira rtu, one of the winter rtus quite similar to hemanta rtu. The seasons or Rtus have been listed and counted in accordance with their order of appearance and the [[Doshas (दोषाः)|dosha]] aggravation they cause. Every season affects the internal balance in the body and thus in order to remain fit and healthy, one is advised to adopt Rtucharya as a preventive healthcare measure in [[Ayurveda (आयुर्वेदः)|Ayurveda]].  

Pravrta or Pravrsha in Samskrit refers to the rains. Rtu or Rutu or Ritu means season. Thus Pravrt or Pravrsh is the rainy season or monsoon in Bharata. In Ayurveda, along with the mention of 6 Rtus and their [[Rutucharya (ऋतुचर्या)|Rutucharya]], Pravrt season has also been specifically mentioned and do's and dont's in this season have also been suggested by acharyas. Acharya Sushruta in [[Sushruta Samhita (सुश्रुतसंहिता)|Sushruta samhita]] has given this high importance and counted Pravta/pravrsha along with Varsha Rtu under the 6 seasons list while skipping Shishira rtu, one of the winter rtus quite similar to hemanta rtu. The seasons or Rtus have been listed and counted in accordance with their order of appearance and the [[Doshas (दोषाः)|dosha]] aggravation they cause. Every season affects the internal balance in the body and thus in order to remain fit and healthy, one is advised to adopt Rtucharya as a preventive healthcare measure in [[Ayurveda (आयुर्वेदः)|Ayurveda]].  

== The status of bio-energies in body in Pravrt ==

== The status of bio-energies in body in Pravrt ==

In Pravrt Rtu, first the sky becomes cloudy, dark and then the rain sets in. During formation of this background for rainfall in nature, significant shift from the summers to rainy season takes place. This change in outside environment affects the human bodies and leads to change in internal environment or bio-energies. Ayurveda acharyas have deeply studied this change and described the actual status of doshas, dhatus and agni in our body during Pravrt season. <blockquote>आदानदुर्बले देहे पक्ता भवति दुर्बलः| स वर्षास्वनिलादीनां दूषणैर्बाध्यते पुनः||३३|| भूबाष्पान्मेघनिस्यन्दात् पाकादम्लाज्जलस्य च| वर्षास्वग्निबले क्षीणे कुप्यन्ति पवनादयः||३४||

In Pravrt Rtu, first the sky becomes cloudy, dark and then the rain sets in. During formation of this background for rainfall in nature, significant shift from the summers to rainy season takes place. This change in outside environment affects the human bodies and leads to change in internal environment or bio-energies. Ayurveda acharyas have deeply studied this change and described the actual status of doshas, dhatus and agni in our body during Pravrt season.<ref>Sushruta Samhita (Sutrasthanam Adyaya 6 Sutra 11)</ref> <ref name=":2">Charaka Samhita (Sutrasthanam Adhyaya 6 Sutra 33-40)</ref> <blockquote>आदानदुर्बले देहे पक्ता भवति दुर्बलः| स वर्षास्वनिलादीनां दूषणैर्बाध्यते पुनः||३३|| भूबाष्पान्मेघनिस्यन्दात् पाकादम्लाज्जलस्य च| वर्षास्वग्निबले क्षीणे कुप्यन्ति पवनादयः||३४||

तस्मात् साधारणः सर्वो विधिर्वर्षासु शस्यते|  

तस्मात् साधारणः सर्वो विधिर्वर्षासु शस्यते| (Char. Samh. 6.33-34)<ref>Charaka Samhita (Sutrasthanam Adhyaya 6 Sutra 33-40)</ref>

ता एवौषधयो निदाघे निःसारा रूक्षा अतिमात्रं लघ्व्यो भवन्त्यापश्च, ता उपयुज्यमानाः सूर्यप्रतापोपशोषितदेहानां देहिनां रौक्ष्याल्लघुत्वाच्च ^[४] वायोः सञ्चयमापादयन्ति; स सञ्चयः प्रावृषि चात्यर्थं जलोपक्लिन्नायां भूमौ क्लिन्नदेहानां देहिनां शीतवातवर्षेरितो वातिकान् व्याधीञ्जनयति |

Meaning: The agni becomes weak due to weakness in the entire body (dhatus) developed due to adana kala (de-energizing period statring from harsh winters to harsh summer). In Varsha or Pravrt, all the 3 doshas become vitiated due to fumes coming out from rain drops falling on the hot surface of the ground, dark, cloudy, windy climate and the sour [[Vipaka (विपाकः)|vipaka]] of the water. these vitiated doshas further vitiate already weakened agni. And due to weak agni again the doshas get vitiated. (This causes complete vicious circle which adversely affects the health and hence there are more chances to fall sick in early rainy season.) </blockquote>Therefore it is clear that in Pravrt rtu, all the 3 doshas namely vata, pitta and Kapha are vitiated and agni has become weak and vitiated as well. All these 4 elements are the actual governing forces of human physiological systems and thus one has to be very cautious while taking food and following lifestyle so not to cause any added trouble to already weakened body systems.  

 

एवमेष दोषाणां सञ्चयप्रकोपहेतुरुक्तः ||११|| (Sush. Samh. Su 6.11)

== Rtucharya for Pravrt ==

== Rtucharya for Pravrt ==

The vata accumulated in summers and aggravated in rainy season should be kept under control by following a specific regimen for Rainy season known as Pravrt Rtucharya or Varsha Rtucharya. The do's and dont's under this regimen are as follows,<ref>Sushrut Samhita (Uttartantra Adhyaya 64 Sutra 48-55)</ref>

The vata accumulated in summers and aggravated in rainy season should be kept under control by following a specific regimen for Rainy season known as Pravrt Rtucharya or Varsha Rtucharya. The do's and dont's under this regimen are as follows,<ref>Sushrut Samhita (Uttartantra Adhyaya 64 Sutra 48-55)</ref> <ref name=":2" />

=== What should be strictly avoided? ===

=== What should be strictly avoided? ===

* River water (unfiltered water)

* River water (unfiltered water)

* Food stuffs and drinks that are ruksha (dry) in property or impart dryness to body

* Food stuffs and drinks that are ruksha (dry) in property or impart dryness to body

* Sunrays or direct sun exposure or heat

* Sunrays or direct sun exposure or heat

* New or fresh produced food grains

* New or fresh produced food grains

* cold water for drinking

* cold water for drinking

* Rain water obtained at this time is usually polluted with a lot of impurities from air and soil thus best to be avoided

* Rain water obtained at this time is usually polluted with a lot of impurities from air and soil thus best to be avoided

=== What should be followed ===

=== What should be followed ===

* Old food grains like yawa (barley), shali (rice), godhuma (wheat)

* Old food grains like yawa (barley), shali (rice), godhuma (wheat).

* Should avoid contact with outside environment and better to sleep or rest in house where there will be no exposure to direct wind

* Should avoid contact with outside environment and better to sleep or rest in house where there will be no exposure to direct wind

* Different types of arishtas, sidhu, maireyakas (old fermented alcoholic Ayurvedic medicinal preparations)  once the food taken in digested well but should be avoided at night

* Different types of arishtas, sidhu, maireyakas (old fermented alcoholic Ayurvedic medicinal preparations)  once the food taken in digested well but should be avoided at night

* Panchakarma procedures like Basti, abhyanga, swedana that help to reduce aggravated vata should be performed regularly.

* Practice dry massage and rub dry medicated powders on body and then one should take a bath with warm water.  

 

* Cloths to be worn after taking bath should be light weight and clean.  

* Reside at places with low humidity, use fragrances, flower garlands to keep the surroundings fresh and cheerful.  

* Panchakarma procedures like Basti, Udwartana, swedana that help to reduce aggravated vata should be performed regularly.

|one should predominantly take sour, salty and unctuous food to alleviate vata. Make use of honey in food and drinks.

|Since the digestive strength is poor and Vata dosha is aggravated, one should avoid food items that are heavy on digestion and lead to flatulence.

|Practice dry massage, reside at places with low humidity, use fragrances, garlands to keep the surroundings fresh and cheerful. This is also considered the ideal season for taking Basti which is one of the 5 types of Panchakarma treatments.

|Daytime sleeping, contact with dew, river water, intense physical exercise, exposure to sun rays and excess sexual intercourse should be avoided.

 

 

 

पिबेत् क्षौद्रान्वितं चाल्पं माध्वीकारिष्टमम्बु वा| माहेन्द्रं तप्तशीतं वा कौपं सारसमेव वा||३९||

Pravrt rtu is considered as the sadharana rtu (moderate season in terms of heat, colds and rains). For conducting panchakarma procedures, sadharana rtus are considered the best. Thus Pravrt is one of the seasons of choice to perform [[Panchakarmas (पञ्चकर्माणि)|Panchakarma]] in even a healthy individual to prevent the probable illnesses that might happen due to the season cycle. This is considered the ideal season for taking [[Basti (बस्तिः )|Basti]] which is one of the 5 types of Panchakarma treatments. Since Pravrt is the season of natural aggravation of vata dosha, [[Basti (बस्तिः )|basti]], which is the prime and most effective treatment for imbalanced vata has been advised in Pravrt rtu.

प्रघर्षोद्वर्तनस्नानगन्धमाल्यपरो भवेत्| लघुशुद्धाम्बरः स्थानं भजेदक्लेदि वार्षिकम्||४०||

Along with Basti, other procedures like [[Ayurvedic method of body scrub (उद्वर्तनम्)|Udwartanam-Pragharshana]] (rubbing dry powder on body) should be done. All these procedures help to alleviate the aggravated vata and other imbalanced doshas in Pravrt rtu.

== Specifications related to Pravrt rtu described in Samhitas ==

== Specifications related to Pravrt rtu described in Samhitas ==

== References ==

== References ==