Changes

== What is Hemanta rtu? How is it characterized? ==

== What is Hemanta rtu? How is it characterized? ==

Hemanta rtu is the coldest season of the year. It comes after Hemant rtu and before Shishira rtu. It is characterized by cold climatic conditions. <s>During this time some regions even witness snowfalls with temperatures falling to below zero degrees centigrade. Cold winds, dryness, occasional clouds and rainfall</s> are some of the features that describe Shishir Rtu. <s>This season is associated with dryness and dehydration. The cold air leads to increase in kapha as well as vata dosha levels. However the accompanying dryness in the weather leads to accumulation of Kapha Dosha and aggravation of Vata Dosha.</s>

This ancient Ayurvedic wisdom and philosophy direct the need for correcting lifestyle patterns as per the environmental changes. Hemanta Rtu marks the beginning of Winters in Bharata.  

== Months of Hemanta rtu as per calendar ==

== Months of Hemanta rtu as per calendar ==

Margashirsha and Pausha are the 2 months in the lunar calendar which fall under Hemanta rtu. While, as per Gregorian calendar Hemanta is grossly a a period from <s>Mid- to Mid January.</s>

Margashirsha and Pausha are the 2 months in the lunar calendar which fall under Hemanta rtu. While, as per Gregorian calendar Hemanta is grossly a a period from Mid November to Mid JAnuary

# <s>Magha OR Tapa- Mid-January to Mid-February</s>

# Margashirsha or Saha

# <s>Phalguna OR Tapasya-Mid-February to Mid-March</s>

# Pausha or Sahasya

== Hemanta- The start of Uttarayana (Northern solstice) ==

== Hemanta- The end of Dakshinayaan (Southern solstice) ==

Hemanta Ritu <s>starts with the solstice, called Uttarayana in Vedic astrology.</s> In the northern hemisphere, which includes India, the solstice signals the beginning of winter. In the southern hemisphere, it is the start of summer. Thus in Bharata, Hemanta marks the <s>beginning of Uttarayana or Adana kala.</s> Adana kala is that kala in which the outside environment is such that it absorbs moisture and fluid from body leading to dehydration and reduction in energy levels. Hemanta which marks the beginning of adana kala is characterized by climate having cold winds and dryness. Such environment leads to loss of moisture and increase in dryness of body. Acharya Charaka has described thee changes in environment and body as below,<blockquote>तत्र रविर्भाभिराददानो जगतः स्नेहं वायवस्तीव्ररूक्षाश्चोपशोषयन्तः शिशिरवसन्तग्रीष्मेषु यथाक्रमं रौक्ष्यमुत्पादयन्तो रूक्षान् रसांस्तिक्तकषायकटुकांश्चाभिवर्धयन्तो नृणां दौर्बल्यमावहन्ति||६||</blockquote>Meaning: In adana kala the Sun with its hot rays absorbs moisture from the environment. The excessively dry wind by virtue of its absorbing quality further causes dryness in Hemanta, vasanta, and grishma seasons progressively, leading to the predominance of tikta, kashaya, and katu rasa respectively and gradual increase of weakness in human beings during these three seasons.

Hemanta Rtu marks the end of Southern solstice called as Dakshinayana in Vedic astrology. In the northern hemisphere, which includes India, the solstice signals the beginning of winter. In the southern hemisphere, it is the start of summer. Thus in Bharata, Hemanta marks the <s>beginning of Uttarayana or Adana kala.</s> Adana kala is that kala in which the outside environment is such that it absorbs moisture and fluid from body leading to dehydration and reduction in energy levels. Hemanta which marks the beginning of adana kala is characterized by climate having cold winds and dryness. Such environment leads to loss of moisture and increase in dryness of body. Acharya Charaka has described thee changes in environment and body as below,<blockquote>तत्र रविर्भाभिराददानो जगतः स्नेहं वायवस्तीव्ररूक्षाश्चोपशोषयन्तः शिशिरवसन्तग्रीष्मेषु यथाक्रमं रौक्ष्यमुत्पादयन्तो रूक्षान् रसांस्तिक्तकषायकटुकांश्चाभिवर्धयन्तो नृणां दौर्बल्यमावहन्ति||६||</blockquote>Meaning: In adana kala the Sun with its hot rays absorbs moisture from the environment. The excessively dry wind by virtue of its absorbing quality further causes dryness in Hemanta, vasanta, and grishma seasons progressively, leading to the predominance of tikta, kashaya, and katu rasa respectively and gradual increase of weakness in human beings during these three seasons.

Therefore, Ayurveda believes that Hemanta rtu which comes at the beginning of adana kala and end of visarga kala is one of the seasons that have maximum physical strength that one can have throughout the year. Hemanta is the ideal period to build strength, stamina and immunity in our bodies.

Therefore, Ayurveda believes that Hemanta rtu which comes at the beginning of adana kala and end of visarga kala is one of the seasons that have maximum physical strength that one can have throughout the year. Hemanta is the ideal period to build strength, stamina and immunity in our bodies.

== Hemanta specific Diet and lifestyle regimen ==

== Hemanta specific Diet and lifestyle regimen ==