Changes

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

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

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.  

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. After the onset of Hemanta  rtu,  the  surrounding  environment appears  smoky  with  a  covering  of  thick  mist and fully surrounded by  snow (especially in the northen part of Bharata), the Sun is also covered  likewise, cold breeze from north creates horripilations, trees like Lodhra (Symplococos racemosa), Priyangu (Callicarpa macrophylla), Punnaga (Calophyllum inophyllum), Lavali (Phyllanthus acidus) become  splendid with  flowers. Animals  like  elephants, goats, buffaloes, horses, crow and pigs become more energetic and vigorated. Resources of water (natural and artificial) are covered with thick layers of snow and mist with the inert fish and birds. Water of wells is warm.  

== 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 Mid November to Mid JAnuary

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

# Margashirsha or Saha

# Margashirsha or Saha - Mid November -Mid December

# Pausha or Sahasya

# Pausha or Sahasya - Med December to Mid January

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

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

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.

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.

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.

Status of Doshas and Bodily elements in Hemanta

Status of Doshas and Bodily elements in Hemanta

बलिनः शीतसंरोधाद्धेमन्ते प्रबलोऽनलः||७||

A specific <blockquote>बलिनः शीतसंरोधाद्धेमन्ते प्रबलोऽनलः||७||

भवत्यल्पेन्धनो धातून् स पचेद्वायुनेरितः|

भवत्यल्पेन्धनो धातून् स पचेद्वायुनेरितः|

अतो हिमेऽस्मिन्सेवेत स्वाद्वम्ललवणात्रसान्||८|| Asht. Hrud. 3. 7,8

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

== Hemanta specific Diet and lifestyle regimen ==

== Hemanta specific Diet and lifestyle regimen ==