Hemanta Ritu is the Ayurvedic season in India of early winter. It begins in Karthik Maas of the Hindu calendar & continues for 2 months - this period between mid november to mid January is the season of Hemanta ritu or early winter.
Each season in the ayurvedic calendar comes with unique challenges & gifts. Ayurveda tells us that in Winter, we can greatly build body strength & health if we follow the ayurvedic principles suggested in this season. What does this comprise of ? How do these practices help rejuvenate strength? Let's find out.
Hemanta Ritu: Lord Shri Rama's favourite season
There are subtle hints of Hemanta Ritucharya practices given in the Srimad Valmiki Ramayana.
In the Aranya Kanda, Sarga 16, Lakshmana gives a rich, poetic description of Hemanta Ritu as seen in the forests on the banks of the Godavari river to mother Sita & Lord Rama in about 25 shlokas
He begins the description with the following verse :
वसतस्तस्य तु सुखं राघवस्य महात्मनः।
शरद्व्यपाये हेमन्तऋतुरिष्टः प्रवर्तत
As the great souled Sri Rama lived happily there (near the Godavari), autumn passed by and his favorite season of Hemanta set in.
While every season has its own charm, it is very nice to know that Lord Rama had a special place in his heart for Hemanta Ritu.
What is Hemantu ritu ? Is it different from Winter season?
The Indian Calendar is very unique in that it identifies 6 seasons of two months each that constitute one full year. Of these 12 months, the winter season of 4 months, is split into two parts :
- Hemanta Ritu ( Early Winter) from mid-November till mid- January
- Shishira Ritu ( Late Winter) from mid-January till mid-March
Ayurvedic texts too recognize the same calendar. Due to the different characteristics of each season (Ritu) they give us specific rules (achara) to follow in that season. This concept of seasonal regimen is known as Ritucharya. When it is applied specifically to the early winter season, it is known as Hemanta Ritucharya. The other 5 seasons are Vasant ritu (spring season, Grishma ritu or summer season. Indian monsoon season is called Varsha Ritu. We then have the autumn season of Sharad Ritu.
The ayurvedic texts additionally explain one more concept based on the movement of the Sun relative to the earth, which we also know as Dakshinayana & Uttarayana. They call the 6 months period of Dakshinayana as Visarga Kala or a period that enhances the strength of the human body progressively.
In particular it is important to note that the two months of early ayurvedic winter or Hemanta Ritu in english is when our body is at its strongest in the whole year.
The next seasons of Shishira ritu (later winter and Vasanta Ritu (spring) conclude Dakshinayana period. In the subsequent seasons of Shishira and Vasanta, the body strength drops lowly, becoming its weakest in Grishma or Ayurvedic summer season. The change in strength is directly linked to the change in doshas in our body responding to climatic and seasonal changes.
This has fascinating implications for us in terms of Hemanta Ritucharya habits.
Impact of Hemanta Ritu on our bodies
The harsh , cold weather of the winter season has two primary effects on our bodies, which in turn determines the habits that we need to adopt in the season
1. The harsh cold drives all our body heat into the koshta (gut). As a result , it sharply increases our appetite and also our digestion
2. It increases dryness in the body, skin & hair . This results in a sharp increase in Vata dosha in our extremities. Therefore, according to ayurveda, you have to adopt specific practices to keep you warm in this seaosn.
As a result of the strong digestive fire in our gut, we need to eat really well in Hemanta and feed this fire. Otherwise, the digestive fire when unattended eats up the internal tissues.
A clear indication of the extreme cold in Hemanta is seen in the following Shloka, wherein Lakshmana is describing various scenes of Hemanta as seen near the banks of the Godavari river
स्पृशंस्तु विमलं शीतमुदकं द्विरदस्सुखम्।
अत्यन्ततृषितो वन्यः प्रतिसंहरते करम्।।3.16.21।।
The wild tusker, extremely thirsty, touches the clean, cold water joyfully, but immediately withdraws its trunk unable to bear the cold.
Hemanta Ritucharya: Ayurvedic Habits to follow
Shiro Abhyanga and Body Abhyanga for Hemanta Ritu
Due to build up in cold, Vata builds up in the body, affecting all organs. To balance Vata, oil application is highly important in the winter season. This also builds strength & gives the body tissues the capacity to repair and rejuvenate itself. It is strongly recommended to apply suitable oils on the head and body. After applying oil on the body, vigorous exercise is also recommended.
Scalp oiling (Shiro abhyanga) is a must to counter hair dryness and hair fall which are both common in this season due to Vata aggravation. Dry dandruff and hair breakage is also extremely common due to the cold weather. This is also countered with regular scalp & hair oiling.
The cold can also trigger pressure based headaches when the blood vessels constrict due to up and down in hydration & pressure levels. This is soothed and calmed by a regular scalp massage with a good ayurvedic oil.
Regular body massages or full body Abhyanga are extremely good for helath & wellness in this season. The soothe the body and mind. They also keep the body and mind sharp and active and assuage the tendency towards anxiety and depression which is common in this season.
However oil massage with plain vegetable oils like coconut oil or sesame oil are not ideal. We must use a vata balancing , properly absorbing ayurvedic massage oil.
For the post oil massage Snana, ubtans with herbs of kashaya rasa (astringent taste) are recommended to remove all the excess oil from the skin. A well-formulated ubtan should provide the desired astringency, and remove excess oil from the skin WITHOUT drying skin.
Body care in Winter - Ayurvedic options
In Hemanta and Shishir Ritu, using synthetic moisturisers to prevent skin dryness seems inevitable. However, if we are able to understand the predominant source of imbalance and use the correct Ayurvedic products, we can take care of our skin and avoid the use of synthetic products like moisturisers completely.
It is also recommended to avoid using synthetic body wash products, and alkaline soaps which can interfere with skin health and upset the delicate skin microbiome balance in the body which contributes to our immunity.
Doing an Abhyanga Snana or using a well formulated Ayurvedic Body wahs powder can conserve skin health. Read more in our detailed article on Ayurevdic Snana choornams here.
Ayurveda Diet for Hemanta Ritu
The Ashtanga Hridaya text tells us that the 3 primary tastes one should eat in Hemanta Ritu are sweet, sour and salty .
Meats and meat soups prepared with oils/fats, salty and sour juices of healthy aquatic and marshy animals are specifically recommended in the Charaka Samhita text.
Further it is said that in Hemanta we should regularly eat preparations of cow’s milk, sugarcane juice, fats, oils (like sesame oil), beverages made with molasses & rice flour, pastries made with wheat or rice flour or black gram, New rice (from fresh paddy). We should also regularly drink warm water throughout the day in winter. By eating these foods our lifespan is increased.
Eating rich heavy food or ahara , with correct tastes utilises the much higher digestive capacity we develop in Winter season.
Shlokas from the Ramayana on diet for Hemanta Ritu
The following shlokas from the Sri Ramayana describing the features of Hemanta ritu also mention the use of new rice & cow’s milk, especially in the season.
Lord Lakshmana says :
नवाग्रयणपूजाभिरभ्यर्च्य पितृदेवताः।
कृताग्रयणकाः काले सन्तो विगतकल्मषाः
Pious men offer their libations of the first crop (new rice) at Agnistoma sacrifices and thereby please their ancestors (pitrus) and get rid of their sins.
प्राज्यकामा जनपदास्सम्पन्नतरगोरसाः।
विचरन्ति महीपाला यात्रास्था विजिगीषवः।।3.16.7।।
People in the countryside have had their desires satisfied by obtaining abundant cow's milk at this time (hemanta)
And Rulers of the earth are out on their expedition with a desire for victory.
Importance of Vyayama (Exercise) in Winter according to Ayurveda
Here is an interesting fact. It is a well known statistic that gym memberships and the intent to join an exercise program soar after New Year. This is because many of us follow the Gregorian calendar and have learned to adopt the western method of deciding and then following through with New year resolutions. But is January an ideal time to start a new exercise routine?
On the other hand, Ayurveda teaches us differently.
Vyayama is a Nityakarma (daily wellness ritual) to be followed across seasons. It should be done everyday. However in certain seasons like Greeshma (summer) when body strength is less and the sun's intensity is high, we are asked to do very light exercise.
However in Hemanta and Shishira Ritu (early winter and later winter), strong Vyayama of a high intensity is suggested by the acharyas.
Why should we exercise more vigorously in winter?
The reason for this is three fold:
One : the body's capacity to exercise strongly is much higher in this season as naturally the strength is high.
Second, the exercise helps the body combat the extenal cold and improves immunity and health by improving circulation across the body.
Third, as we are much more hungry with a strong appetite, strong Vyayama or exercsie is suggested so as to not cause Kapha dosha build up in the body due to excess eating.
So an ideal Ayurvedic guideline if you want to begin an exercise programme, learn a new physical skill or increase the intensity of your workout is to start this in Ayurvedic Winter. This is an important part of the Hemanta ritucharya.
Ideally Abhyanga and Vyayama should be paired in our daily regimen. We may do an Abhyanga after Vyayama in the morning. This helps relieve fatigue and also balances any vata build up in the body after the exercise. When we follow Vyayama with Abhyaga and then snana, we have given the body an excellent workout.
This is because Abhyanga itself is considered a workout where we work with the body kneading the body with oil. It is considered equivalent to half a workout when done briskly. So we fulfill the objective of both Hard exercise and Strong abhyanga which is recommended in this season of Ayurvedic winter or Hemanta Ritu .
Other Health Measures to balances doshas in Hemanta Ritu
This is an obvious recommendation if you have come here searching for ayurvedic seasonal guidelines to tackle hemanta ritu. The texts strongly exhort us to stay away from the cold winds of winter and to stay in well-heated inner parts of the buildings. Our bed linen and other linen should be with thick, winter-appropriate materials and we should also wear heavy warm clothes. Layering clothing is a particularly good strategy to avoid aggravating cold and vata dosha in the body.
In Hemanta Ritu, the texts also mention that in this season we are permitted to indulge well in sexual intercourse. Maithuna requires strength and can cause depletion of dhatus if over indulged in the wrong time or season. Hence it is suggested in this season when health is naturally strong.
Exposure to the healing rays of the sun is also crucial in this season to prevent seasonal affective disorder, keep the body in good health and regulate circadian rythms. Early morning sunshine is preferable as winter sunshine can otherwise be quite harsh.
Correct Diet for Winter according to Ayurveda
A supportive winter diet is crucial in this season. We should avoid foods and drinks that are very light & tend to aggravate vata dosha. Ayurveda suggests also avoiding fasting in winter.
There is a belief that raw foods and salads and vegetables are healthy for the body and provide the body with more nutrition.
No matter how much nutrition they contain, the body needs sufficient agni in order to extract this nutrition. When we send cold, raw, uncooked food often inside, the agni in the body is overwhelmed and doused. So these foods could sit undigested, ferment, causing Ama buildup.
In Winter, our Agni is higher. But we are also living in an extremely cold environment. So the acharyas have advised to drink warm water and eat hot , well cooked food that does not douse the digestive fire. Raw foods, and uncooked salads can unfortunately dampen Agni.
Many modern day food principles do not stand the test of Ayurvedic wisdom. The Acharyas wisely teach us that it does not matter if a food is nutrient dense. Our body must be capable of extracting that nutrient and using it efficiently. Unfortunately raw food is difficult to process by our body. So even if it is rich in nutrition, we end up straining the system just to extract a smaller amount of nutrition compared to a simpler , warm cooked food.
For this season we should use warming spices like pepper, cumin, cardamom, dried ginger in our diet. In this season digestive strength is strong, so we should eat richer and more hearty food. It is good to avoid junk and carbonated drinks which upset the body's health.
Facial Care routine in Hemanta Ritu
In this article we have delived on the general seasonal guidelines for Hemanta ritu in english. We have not delved deep in to the ayurvedic wintercare skin regimen. Please read our detailed Winter skin care post for more information on this.
5 Key Pillars of the Ayurvedic Winter wellness regimen:
Due to the peculiar nature of Hemant ritu, the following 5 habits are key Ritucharya pillars or key regimen for winter :
- Apply oil on the head and body regularly. This is Abhyanga Snana
- Exercise vigorously
- Eat really well. Sweet , unctuous (snigdha), & slightly heavy to digest foods are good to be taken in this season
- Drink warm water regularly
- Ensure you are well covered, wear suitably warm clothing and protct yourself from the cold air that can aggravate vata dosha
To sum up : Shishira & Hemanta Ritu | winter wellness regimen
The Ayurvedic texts clearly mention that following seasonal wellness regimen helps to increase our body's strength and also extends our lifespan. In this post we have explained the ayurvedic guidelines for early winter months or Hemanta ritu . The guidelines for late winter or Shishira Ritu are also similar. By following this seasonal regimen we help keep the body stable and avoid health issues caused by seasonal changes. The regimen also maintains the digestive system well and keeps us fit and strong.
It improves the blood circulation, helps keep the body warm, & also helps us maintain the balance of doshas in the body.
When we follow the Ritucharya guidelines advised for Winter, we can take full advantage of our body's increase in strength and stability. We can make a significant change to our health, harmony, and immunity by simply following some basic Ayurvedic seasonal guidelines.
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