CTRI

Ayurveda is an Indian system of medicine whose objective is to protect the health of a healthy person and to cure the diseases of a sick person. In the definition of health described by Sushruta Samhita and World Health Organization, importance has been given to mental and social health along with physical health. To fulfill this objective, it is necessary to follow the daily routine and seasonal routine described in Ayurveda for health protection. In Ayurveda, the Acharyas have divided the six seasons into two ayanas, Uttarayan (Aadan Kaal) and Dakshinayan (Visarg Kaal), in Uttarayan there are six seasons namely Shishir, Basant, Grishma and in Dakshinayan there are Varsha, Sharad, Hemant. Due to the time division of the Sun and the Moon, the strength of all living beings is affected in these six seasons. The conjunction of two seasons is called Ritusandhi. The last week of the first season and the first week of the next season, i.e. the period of 15 days is called Ritusandhi. In this, one should gradually abandon the routine of the first season and start practicing the routine of the next season. If you suddenly abandon the routine of the first season and start the routine of the second season, then this disruption can lead to diseases caused by imbalance.

Explaining the importance of Ritusandhi, Acharya Sharngdhar has described “Yamadanshtra”.

The last eight days of Kartik month and the first eight days of Margashirsha month are called Yamadanshtra. Only a person who eats light meals during this period remains happy. There is a difference in the strength of a person during different seasons, which has been explained as follows

There is weakness in humans at the beginning of Visarg period (rainy season) and at the end of Aadan period (summer), there is average strength between Visarg period and Aadan period (spring, autumn) and there is best physical strength at the end of Visarg period (winter) and beginning of Aadan period (winter).

Acharya Charak has described three types of strength in the Tristraishaniya chapter.

There are three types of strength - 1. Spontaneous, 2. Timely, 3. Rational. Spontaneous strength is that which is naturally produced by the body and mind. Timely strength is that which is produced according to the division of seasons and according to childhood, youth and old age. Rational strength is that which is produced by consuming nutritious food and efforts like exercise.

Exercise strength is tested by the strength to do work. Excellent strength is known by the strength to do more work, medium strength by the strength to do medium work and weak strength by the strength to do less work; this can be known only by estimation.

According to Acharya Sushrut, winter and winter seasons have been described as having cold characteristics, spring and summer seasons as having hot characteristics, rain and autumn seasons as having rain characteristics and the six seasons have been divided into two Ayanas, Dakshinayan and Uttarayan, which are based on the characteristics of cold, hot and rain. Hence, the six seasons described mainly have cold, hot and rain characteristics. Hence, due to not following the diet during the transition period, due to which diseases caused by disharmony occur and due to the effect of seasons on the body strength, it is necessary to study the body strength during the transition period (Shishir-Spring, Summer- Rain, Autumn-Hemant).

Each season has a different climate which affects the body strength. In the transition seasons that come between the winter and winter seasons (Hemant and Shishir seasons have cold characteristics, Vasant and Grishma have hot characteristics, Varsha and Sharad seasons have rainy characteristics), if the routine of the previous season is not abandoned and the routine of the next season is not followed, then diseases caused by imbalance arise, which also affect the body strength. Knowledge of transition seasons helps in staying healthy in the coming season and helps in preventing many seasonal disorders and helps the doctor in treating seasonal disorders and also advises preventive measures to be taken in relation to other diseases occurring in the next season. Therefore, the researcher will try to gain detailed knowledge of body strength and seasonal transition. By studying the previous research done at various institutions of India, many separate researches have been obtained on strength, seasonal transition and seasons, but theoretical and survey study of “body strength” with special reference to “Shishir-Vasant, Greeshma-Varsha, Sharad-Hemant seasonal transition”. Due to non-availability of data till date and less research on this subject and to highlight the importance of the subject, this subject has been selected by the researcher for research.