Dharmic Dinacharya (धार्मिक दिनचर्या)

Dharmic dinacharya (Samskrit: धार्मिक दिनचर्या) refers to the Indian style of living in a systematic and controlled manner according to the principles of Sanatana Dharma or Hindu Dharma. This system and control in their way of living is the reason behind the longevity, intensity, unique knowledgeability, wonderful genius and clairvoyant powers of Sanatana Dharma. One can observe the classical, economic, cultural and scientific discipline in the Indian way of living. Someone who aspires for wholesome welfare should imbibe the daily routine as prescribed by the scriptures. Daily routine is intricately related to Dharma and spirituality plays a significant role in the deep thinking process.

Introduction

Daily routine involves a systematic sequence of Vedic duties. All parts of this sequence are of utmost importance and all the daily rituals are performed in order respectively. The manifold points of the daily routine are found in the scriptures relating to ethics, religious scriptures and scriptures of Ayurveda. Based on the effects of natural elements on the human body and the climate, the timings prescribed for the daily routine is fine tuned. From the perspective of Dharma and Yoga, break of dawn is considered to be the auspicious beginning of the day. This system is also accepted by the scriptures of Ayurveda and astrology. The group of saints and sages have propagated to spend 24 hours of a day in a streamlined manner. In short, this period is classified as follows:

• Brahma muhurt + Dawn = Presumably between 3/4 AM till 6/7 AM based on the seasonal changes. Time to perform Sandhyavandana (worship of Sun), worship of deities and morning yajna rituals.
• Dawn + Time between milking of the cows till they are taken for grazing (Early Morning) = Presumably between 6/7 AM till 9/10 AM. Time to procure or gather tools required for one’s occupation.
• Time between milking of the cows till they are taken for grazing (Early Morning) + Forenoon = Time between 9/10 AM till 12 PM.
• Mid-day (Noon) + Afternoon = Time between 12 PM till 3 PM.
• Afternoon + Dusk = Presumably between 3 PM till 6/7 PM.
• Evening Time prior to nightfall = Presumably between 6/7 PM till 9/10 PM.
• Time to sleep (2 consecutive 3 hour periods, 6 hours) = Between 9/10 PM till Early morning 3/4 AM.

In Bharatavarsha the daily routine undergoes some change with the change in seasons. In the summer and winter seasons the early morning and evening time gets extended or reduced presumably by an hour or so in the daily activities and business world. The disbursal time of sunlight and darkness increases the gap between morning and evening time in world activities.

Definition

The activities collectively undertaken from the time one wakes up early in the morning till the time one goes to bed at night is defined as daily routine. In Ayurveda texts and Dharmashastras, Dinacharya or daily routine is defined as follows-

प्रतिदिनं कर्त्तव्या चर्या दिनचर्या। (इन्दू) दिने-दिने चर्या दिनस्य वा चर्या दिनचर्या, चरणचर्या।(अ०हृ०सू०)

Meaning- Ideal and prescribed activities undertaken on a daily basis is called as daily routine.

Synonyms to daily routine include आह्निक, दैनिक कर्म, नित्यकर्म meaning diurnal and daily duties and duties undertaken on a regular basis etc.

Benefits of having a daily routine

To keep the entire human race healthy and devoid of diseases, the focus on daily routine is established. If the daily routine is in harmony with the laws of nature, then it brings about welfare of human race instead of destruction. A man’s health is dependent on the food that he eats, the forms of recreation he indulges in and the different activities he undertakes during the entire day. Daily routine is very essential for maintaining healthy living. Even the daily routines of birds and animals are synchronized with the laws of nature. That is why it is necessary to behave in accordance with the laws of nature (as prescribed by Dharma).

ब्राह्ममुहूर्ते उत्तिष्ठेत्। कुर्यान् मूत्रं पुरीषं च। शौचं कुर्याद् अतद्धितः । दन्तस्य धावनं कुयात्। प्रातः स्नानं समाचरेत्। तर्पयेत् तीर्थदेवताः । ततश्च वाससी शुद्धे। उत्तरीय सदा धार्यम्। ततश्च तिलकं कुर्यात्। प्राणायामं ततः कृत्वा संध्या-वन्दनमाचरेत्॥ विष्णुपूजनमाचरेत्॥ अतिथिंश्च प्रपूजयेत्। ततो भूतबलिं कुर्यात्। ततश्च भोजनं कुर्यात् प्राङ्मु खो मौनमास्थितः । शोधयेन्मुखहस्तौ च। ततस्ताम्बूलभक्षणम्। व्यवहारं ततः कुर्याद् बहिर्गत्वा यथासुखम्॥ परिचय परिभाषा धार्मिक दिनचर्या से लाभ वेदाभ्यासेन तौ नयेत्। गोधूलौ धर्मं चिन्तयेत्। कृतपादादिशौचस्तुभुक्त्वा सायं ततो गृही॥ यामद्वयंशयानो हि ब्रह्मभूयाय कल्यते॥प्राक्शिराः शयनं कुर्यात्। न कदाचिदुदक् शिराः॥ दक्षिणशिराः वा। रात्रिसूक्तं जपेत्स्मृत्वा। वैदिकैर्गारुडैर्मन्त्रे रक्षां कृत्वा स्वपेत् ततः॥ नमस्कृत्वाऽव्ययं विष्णुं समाधिस्थं स्वपेन्निशि। माङ्गल्यं पूर्णकुम्भं च शिरःस्थाने निधाय च। ऋतुकालाभिगामीस्यात् स्वदारनिरतः सदा।अहिंसा सत्यवचनं सर्वभूतानुकम्पनम्। शमो दानं यथाशक्तिर्गार्हस्थ्यो धर्म उच्यते॥

Meaning- One should wake up in the time of Brahma muhurta (a time just before dawn), take care of clearing one’s bowels and passing urine, self-purification, brushing of teeth, bathing, make an offering to the divine entities, wearing clean and holy clothes, smearing tilak on their foreheads, perform pranayama or breathing exercises along with Sandhyavandana, ritualistic deity worship, hospitality to guests, feeding of cows and other creatures, consuming meals in silence while facing east, washing hands and mouth after meals, consuming betel leaf and nut, undertaking activities of one’s occupation (For sustenance purposes only), study of the Vedic scriptures after the morning and evening Sandhyavandana, religious contemplation, sacrificial offerings, consuming meals after washing one’s hands and legs, sleeping for 2 yams (6 hours) duration, placing a pot full of water in front of our head for drinking purposes, staying away from wife from the fourth day of her menstruation till the 16^th day of her menstruation etc. are the streamlined, holy daily routine prescribed by Vedas, which help in the longevity of human life and is a sequence that is listed in the Brahmapurana. This should not be broken or deviated from on account of laziness, or with the intent of ignoring, or because of atheistic beliefs or due to the desire for indulging in sensual pleasures. The above listed daily routine activities can be divided into the categories mentioned below-

• ब्राह्म मुहूर्तम्॥ Brahma muhurta
• प्रातः जागरण॥ Pratah Jagarana (waking up in the early morning hours)
• करदर्शन॥ Kar Darshana (looking at the palm of our hand)
• भूमिवन्दना॥ Bhumi Vandana (Offering salutations to Mother Earth)
• मंगलदर्शन॥ Mangala Darshana (the auspicious glimpse)
• अभिवादन॥ Abhivadana (friendly wishes and greetings)
• अजपाजप॥ Ajapajapa (practicing breath meditation)
• उषा काल॥ Ushakala (dawn break Ayurveda prescribed activities)
• शौचाचार॥ Shouchara (clearing of bowels and passing urine)
• दन्तधावन एवं मुखप्रक्षालन॥ Dantadhavana Evam Mukhaprakshalana (brushing of teeth and rinsing of mouth)
• व्यायाम॥ Vyayama (exercise physically)
• तैलाभ्यंग॥ Tailabhyanga (massaging oil on the body)
• क्षौर॥ Kshaura (hair cutting and shaving on specific days)
• स्नान॥ Snana (bathing)
• वस्त्रपरिधान॥ Vastra paridhana (wearing clothes)
• पूजाविधान॥ Pujavidhana (performing ritualistic puja)
• योगसाधना॥ Yoga sadhana (performing yoga exercises)
• यज्ञोपवीत धारण॥ Yagyopavita Dharana (wearing yajnopavita at prescribed times)
• तिलक-आभरण धारण॥ Tilaka Abharana Dharana (smearing of tilak on the forehead and other ornaments)
• संध्योपासना-आराधना॥ Sandhyopasana- Aradhana (performing sandhyopasana rituals and japa)
• तर्पण॥ Tarpana (offering of water to pitrs)
• पञ्चमहायज्ञ॥ Pancha mahayajna (five yajnas prescribed for a grihastha)
• भोजन॥ Bhojana (consuming meals)
• लोक संग्रह-व्यवहार-जीविका॥ Lokasangraha- Vyavahara jivika (engaging in activities for self-sustenance or livelihood)
• संध्या-गोधूलि-प्रदोष॥ Saayam Sandhya (performing ritualistic activities prescribed at the time of dusk)
• शयनविधि॥ Shayana Vidhi (preparation for sleep and related activities)