Changes

The diet and lifestyle guidelines given by Ayurveda which should be followed to preserve and promote health in Hemanta rtu are discussed under Hemanta rtucharya. These are the guidelines given by Ayurveda acharyas to help one to prevent illnesses occurring due to the beginning of cold and dry weather of Hemanta rtu folllowed by Shishira rtu of excess cold and dryness. When this regimen is followed appropriately it helps one to maintain the balance of body energies called as doshas. This inturn help to maintain health and wellness in this season.  

The diet and lifestyle guidelines given by Ayurveda which should be followed to preserve and promote health in Hemanta rtu are discussed under Hemanta rtucharya. These are the guidelines given by Ayurveda acharyas to help one to prevent illnesses occurring due to the beginning of cold and dry weather of Hemanta rtu folllowed by Shishira rtu of excess cold and dryness. When this regimen is followed appropriately it helps one to maintain the balance of body energies called as doshas. This inturn help to maintain health and wellness in this season.  

== Months of Hemanta rtu as per calendar ==

== Months of Hemanta rtu as per calendar ==

# Margashirsha or Saha - Mid November -Mid December

# Margashirsha or Saha - Mid November -Mid December

# Pausha or Sahasya - Med December to Mid January

# Pausha or Sahasya - Med December to Mid January

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

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

Hemanta Rtu marks the end of Southern solstice called as Dakshinayana in Vedic astrology. Varsha (Pravrt), Sharada and Hementa are the 3 rtus that appear in sequence in Dakshinayana period. In all these rtus, heat in the environment reduces and coldness increases in a stepwise gradual manner. The sun is situated in southwards position, and due to its position with respect to earth, and also due to clouds, wind and rain, the heat in the environment slackens. The power of the moon is predominant. All thee lead to the abundance and predominance of panchamahabhutas in the surroundings that are non-dry and generate amla (sour), lavana (salty), and madhura (sweet) rasa respectively and gradual increase of body strength in human beings during these three seasons. Thus in Hemanta, MAdhura (sweet) rasa is abundant in the environment and the physical strength or Balam is the highest. Acharya Charaka has described these changes in a following way,<blockquote>

Hemanta Rtu marks the end of Southern solstice called as Dakshinayana in Vedic astrology. Varsha (Pravrt), Sharada and Hementa are the 3 rtus that appear in sequence in Dakshinayana period. In all these rtus, heat in the environment reduces and coldness increases in a stepwise gradual manner. The sun is situated in southwards position, and due to its position with respect to earth, and also due to clouds, wind and rain, the heat in the environment slackens. The power of the moon is predominant. All thee lead to the abundance and predominance of panchamahabhutas in the surroundings that are non-dry and generate amla (sour), lavana (salty), and madhura (sweet) rasa respectively and gradual increase of body strength in human beings during these three seasons. Thus in Hemanta, MAdhura (sweet) rasa is abundant in the environment and the physical strength or Balam is the highest. Acharya Charaka has described these changes in a following way,<blockquote>

वर्षाशरद्धेमन्तेषु तु दक्षिणाभिमुखेऽर्के कालमार्गमेघवातवर्षाभिहतप्रतापे, शशिनि चाव्याहतबले, माहेन्द्रसलिलप्रशान्तसन्तापे जगति, अरूक्षा रसाः प्रवर्धन्तेऽम्ललवणमधुरा यथाक्रमं तत्र बलमुपचीयते नृणामिति||७||</blockquote>Therefore, Ayurveda believes that Hemanta rtu which comes at the 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.

वर्षाशरद्धेमन्तेषु तु दक्षिणाभिमुखेऽर्के कालमार्गमेघवातवर्षाभिहतप्रतापे, शशिनि चाव्याहतबले, माहेन्द्रसलिलप्रशान्तसन्तापे जगति, अरूक्षा रसाः प्रवर्धन्तेऽम्ललवणमधुरा यथाक्रमं तत्र बलमुपचीयते नृणामिति||७||</blockquote>Therefore, Ayurveda believes that, Hemanta rtu which comes at the end of Visarga kala is one of the 6 seasons that gives maximum physical strength one can have throughout the year. Hemanta is the ideal period to build strength, stamina and immunity in our bodies.

 

भवत्यल्पेन्धनो धातून् स पचेद्वायुनेरितः|

A specific weather condition in Hemanta rtu leads to changes in the bio-energies like Doshas, Dhatus and malas. Outside temperature becomes cold in this season. Because of this and the windy weather, the heat in the body is trapped inside (which otherwise gets eliminated as and when required through sweating and other means). Since there is no or very little sweating is in winter acharyas say that the heat gets trapped). Heat is present in the form of pitta in our body. Thus, pitta especially the pachaka form of pitta dosha which is also known as Jatharagni (agni) becomes strong and powerful. As a result appetite increases in this season. If this powerful digestive fire does not get sufficient and appropriate food (which is collated with the fuel) it starts taking required material from the dhatus and as a result dhatus break down. Dhatus are the building blocks of our body hence their breakdown leads to lowering strength, immunity and life as a whole. Thus, it is important to provide sufficient fuel in the form of food to this powerful digestive fire of Hemanta rtu. This food should be predominantly sweet, sour, salty in taste.  <blockquote>बलिनः शीतसंरोधाद्धेमन्ते प्रबलोऽनलः||७|| भवत्यल्पेन्धनो धातून् स पचेद्वायुनेरितः|

अतो हिमेऽस्मिन्सेवेत स्वाद्वम्ललवणात्रसान्||८|| Asht. Hrud. 3. 7,8</blockquote>

अतो हिमेऽस्मिन्सेवेत स्वाद्वम्ललवणात्रसान्||८|| Asht. Hrud. 3. 7,8</blockquote>Although the concept of rise in core body temperature by reduction in peripheral circulation in winters is approved by the modern science, the same has been simply explained by entrapment of heat in body by Ayurveda scholars.

== Hemanta specific Diet and lifestyle regimen ==

== Hemanta specific Diet and lifestyle regimen ==