VASANTHA RITU

VASANTA RITU (SPRING SEASON)

(Mid-March to Mid-May – Chaitra and Vaishakha months)

CLIMATIC CONDITIONS

• The environment is pleasant and vibrant, with moderate warmth.

• Snow melts, and nature rejuvenates—trees blossom and the atmosphere is clear.

• Days become longer and warmer, while nights are relatively cool.

• The increase in atmospheric moisture and temperature causes internal changes in doshas.

Shloka:

"वसन्तेऽधिगतः कालः प्रकृत्या सुखसंयुतः।
स्निग्धोष्णगुरुभिः पूर्वं भोज्यैः श्लेष्मा प्रसूयते॥"
(Ashtanga Hridaya Sutrasthana 3/3)

STATUS OF DOSHA, AGNI, AND BALA

• Kapha dosha which was accumulated during Hemanta and Shishira, begins to melt due to the increasing warmth.

• This leads to kapha prakopa (aggravation) and symptoms like heaviness, laziness, indigestion, cold, cough, and allergies.

Shloka:

"तेन नारीषु लोलासु मदस्निग्धस्वरेषु च।
स्त्रीकण्ठ्यादिषु रोगेषु ज्वरादिष्वपि चापरे॥"
(Ashtanga Hridaya Sutrasthana 3/4)

• Agni (digestive fire) gets mildly suppressed due to the kapha dominance in the body.

• Bala (strength) begins to decrease slightly from its peak in winter.

• Person is prone to kapha disorders, hence this season demands cleansing (shodhana) and dietary discipline.

APPROPRIATE FOOD (AHARA)

• Light, dry, and easily digestible food is recommended to counter kapha.

• Avoid oily, heavy, sour, and cold foods, as they increase kapha.

• Emphasis on bitter (tikta), pungent (katu), and astringent (kashaya) tastes.

Shloka:

"लघ्वन्नं रसयुक्तं च प्रातः सायं च सेवितम्।
कफघ्नं लवणोष्णं च रुक्षं तिक्तं कषायकम्॥"
(Ashtanga Hridaya Sutrasthana 3/5)

• Suggested foods:

  • Old grains (shali, godhuma)

  • Pulses like moong

  • Vegetables like bitter gourd, drumsticks

  • Herbal decoctions (kashayam) made of trikatu, musta, nagara

• Avoid:

  • Curd, sweets, milk, ghee, and cold drinks

  • Daytime sleep (divaswapna), which increases kapha

APPROPRIATE REGIMEN (VIHARA)

• Indulge in physical activity (vyayama) and kapha-reducing therapies to prevent kapha-related disorders.

Shloka:

"नित्यं कफविनाशाय व्यायामं सेवनं हितम्।
धूपनं कुष्ठहं सिक्तं परिषेकार्चनं शुभम्॥"
(Ashtanga Hridaya Sutrasthana 3/6)

• Recommended Regimen:

  • Regular exercise – until mild sweating

  • Udvartana (dry powder massage) – to remove kapha and enhance circulation

  • Dhumapana (medicated smoke inhalation) – clears nasal passages and sinuses

  • Gandusha/Kavala (oil pulling)

  • Application of fragrant pastes, such as sandalwood (chandana) and aguru

• Shodhana therapy:

  • Vamana (therapeutic emesis) is particularly beneficial in this season.

Shloka:

"श्लेष्मणोऽस्य विरेकोऽस्य स्त्रीकण्ठ्याद्यैः प्रशस्यते।"
(Ashtanga Hridaya Sutrasthana 3/4)

LIFESTYLE DO’S AND DON’TS

• Do’s:

  • Wake up early

  • Perform kapha-reducing rituals regularly

  • Eat only when previous food is fully digested

• Don’ts:

  • Avoid sleeping during the day

  • Avoid cold water bath

  • Avoid excessive milk products, sweets, and heavy food

RECAP – VASANTA RITU