| Charyas
(Daily & Seasonal Regimens) |
|
Dinacharya |
|
The daily practices to be
carried out to promote optimal health and optimal use of our
faculties. |
| Activities |
Description
|
Indicated
for |
Contra-
indicated in |
| Udhanam. |
Getting up in Brahma muhoortham
means 2 hrs. before sunrise. |
Brahma muhoortham is the
suitable time to acquire Brahmam or jnanam
(knowledge). |
Diseased conditions. |
Mala-moothra Pravarthanam
(defaecation & micturition). |
Perform these, whenever the
urge comes naturally. Do not inhibit or stimulate these
urges. |
To make the body systems clean
and to expel the waste materials. |
|
| Soucham. |
After defaecation clean the
organs with pure water. |
Cleaning. |
|
Dantha dhavanam
(Cleaning the teeth). |
Clean the teeth with 12 finger
long, straight, sharp one end crushed fibrous root,
which is taken from herbs having astringent, hot and
bitter tastes like Calotropis gigantia. Ficus
bengalensis, Acacia catechu, Pongamia glabra etc. Then
massage the gums with a herbal powder mixed with honey.
This is to be done especially in the morning and after
every food intake. |
To make the teeth and gums
clean & healthy. |
Indigestion, nausea,
respiratory disorders, facial paralysis, stomatitis,
diseases of heart, eye, head and ear. |
Jihwa nirlekhanam
(Cleaning the tongue). |
Clean the tongue with a thin 10
finger long spatula made of gold, silver, copper or soft
wood or leaf. This is to be done only in the morning.
|
To make the tongue clean.
|
Nausea and vomiting. |
Mukha dhavanam
(Washing
the face & mouth). |
Wash the face, mouth, eyes, ear
and nose, with cold water in hot season and luke warm
water in cold season. |
Cleansing to impart freshness.
|
|
Anjanam
(Use
of collyrium). |
Apply the preparation of
collyrium viz. souveeranjanam daily in both
eyes. Apply the anjanam called Rasnjanam
every 7th day. |
Improves visual power, protects
the eyes from Kapha dosha. |
Diseases caused by Vata.
|
| Nasyam (Nasal drops).
|
Apply nasal drops prepared
using oils, viz. Anuthailam. |
For healthy head, shoulders &
chest, sense organs. Also prevents wrinkles, baldness &
discolourations. |
Toxic conditions, indigestion,
respiratory diseases and post natal care. |
| Gandoosham / Kabalam
(Gargling). |
Gargling with oils, decoctions,
honey, milk, water etc. |
For healthy mouth, teeth,
tongue, gums and lips. |
|
Dhoomapanam
(Inhalation of medicinal fumes). |
Burning herbal medicines and
inhaling the fumes. |
To make the head, sense organs &
respiratory system clean and healthy. |
Diseased conditions. |
| Thamboola Charvanam
(Chewing). |
Chewing betel leaves with
spices. |
To impart freshness in mouth. |
Toxic con- ditions, mental
diseases, tuberculosis and diseases of head. |
| Kesha-Nakha-Samrakshana
(Care for hair, nails, etc.). |
Shaving, nail cutting,
maintenance of hair, etc. on time. |
|
|
| Abhyangam (Massage).
|
Apply oil all over the body
especially on head, ear and feet and gently massage.
|
Reduces fatigue & ailments
associated with ageing. For healthy eyes, sound sleep,
longevity and nourishment. |
Conditions with aggravated
Kapha, immediately after food intake, after
Sodhana treatments and in indigestion . |
| Vyayamam (Exercise). |
Carrying out exercises daily
using half the physical strength of the person till
sweating. |
For lightness of body, provides
strength, improves digestive power & reduces
obesity. |
Conditions, like aggravated
Vata & Pitta in childhood, old age
and in indigestion. |
Udvarthanam
(Massage with powders). |
Massage with herbal powder
opposite to the direction of hair growth. |
To provide strength to organs
and health to skin. Reduces excessive Kapha,
imparts sturdy body, proper functions of organs and
comely skin. |
Diseases of Vata.
|
| Snanam (bath). |
Take bath with luke warm water
or wash the head with boiled and cooled water only.
|
Improves digestion, longevity,
energy to keep the body clean & healthy. |
Facial paralysis, diseases of
eye, mouth, ear, flatulence, sinusitis, indigestion,
diarrhoea and immediately after food intake. |
Sugandhalepanam
(use of perfumes). |
Apply perfumes made out of
herbal materials. |
For pleasing the mind. |
|
Pushpadharanam/Abharanam
(Use of flowers/ ornaments). |
Use ornaments and flowers
according to the culture of the society. |
For pleasing the mind. |
|
| Vasthradharanam
(Dress). |
Dress neatly. |
For pleasing the mind. |
|
|
|
The
Three Pillars of Life
The key to
health depends not only in the application of drugs
but on the prime factors of life and vitality. The
three most important factors according to Ayurveda are
food, sleep and sexual energy. |
|
 AHARAM
(Food) |
|
| Food
sustains the life of all living beings.
|
Properties
of food
All food articles are composed
of these three factors |
|
v |
The five elements i.e.,
Panchabhuthas. |
|
v |
The six tastes (Shad
Rasas) . |
|
v |
The twenty attributes (Vimsathi
Gunas) |
|
|
Rules for taking
food
Aharakalam
(time for food intake)
|
|
|
v |
When previously taken
food is completely digested. |
|
v |
After defaecation and
micturition. |
|
v |
When belching is pure
i.e, devoid of the smell of any food. |
|
v |
When proper hunger
arises. |
|
|
Aharamathra (quantity
of food) |
|
|
v |
Half the capacity of
stomach alone be filled with food materials.
|
|
v |
¼th space of the
stomach needs to be filled with water. |
|
v |
The balance space to be
spared to facilitate smooth movement of air.
|
|
|
Other factors |
|
|
v |
Food must be fresh and
consumed in a clean place in a comfortable
environment,
without talking and laughing
and with concentration. |
|
v |
While taking food, mind
should be peaceful. |
|
v |
Do not take excessive
quantity of food; do not take inadequate
quantity also. |
|
|
NIDRA
(Sleep) |
|
When the
body gets tired and mind turns away from the sense
organs owing to the increase of the quality of
Tamas in the mind, person falls asleep.
Just as we require proper food, rest to the body
and mind are also essential. Happiness and misery,
obesity and leanness, strength and weakness,
sexual vigor and impotence, consciousness and loss
of sensory acuity, life and death all depend upon
proper and improper sleep.
|
|
Depending upon the
causative factors; sleep can be classified into |
|
|
v |
Natural. |
|
v |
Due to exhaustion of
mind and body. |
|
v |
Due to increase in
Tamas or dullness in the mind. |
|
v |
Owing to aggravation of
Kapha which causes heaviness and
fatigue. |
|
v |
Caused by external
injury (as to the head). |
|
v |
Due to diseases and
fatigue they cause. |
|
v |
Due to the advent of
the night or according to the movement of time.
|
|
|
Complications of
day sleep |
|
|
v |
Aggravation of Kapha
and Pitta and diseases caused by them.
|
|
v |
Obesity and associated
complications. |
|
v |
Indigestion. |
|
|
Permitted day
sleep |
|
|
v |
In Greeshma Rithu
(summer) |
|
|
Complications of
Insomnia |
|
|
v |
Body pain. |
|
v |
Indigestion and
vomiting. |
|
v |
Giddiness. |
|
v |
Laziness. |
|
v |
Yawning and weakness. |
|
v |
Senselessness. |
|
v |
Diseases of aggravated
Vata. |
|
|
Measures to induce
good sleep |
|
|
v |
Unctousness of the
head, eyes, ear. |
|
v |
Massage. |
|
v |
Intake of milk, wine,
soup. |
|
v |
Bathing. |
|
v |
Psychic pleasure. |
|
v |
Hearty sounds and
smell. |
|
|
ABRAHMACHARYAM |
|
This deals with sexual
enjoyment.
Rules |
|
|
v |
Both partners must want
to perform the act. |
|
v |
Both of them should be
good in physical and mental health. |
|
v |
Should not engage in
sex with a woman in her menstrual period.
|
|
v |
Avoid women who are
devoid of passion, not clean, too old, too
young,
sick or pregnant. |
|
v |
Both partners after
enjoying the sexual intercourse, should take a
cool bath,
drink cool water, milk or wine
or food containing natural sugar . |
|
v |
Those who regulate
their sexual energy will have increased memory,
power, intelligence, health and longevity.
|
|
|
Sadvritha
(Ethical Regimen)
Ayurveda
prescribes certain rules for maintaining healthy mind.
These are principles of right conduct that are
applicable to all people at all times and places.
Practicing them gives balance and peace to the mind.
Mind has a strong relation to the Thridosha
balance and thereby health. They are |
|
v |
Always speak the truth. |
|
v |
Do not lose your temper
under any circumstances. |
|
v |
Do not get addicted to
sensory pleasures. |
|
v |
Do not harm anyone. |
|
v |
As far as possible, do not
expose yourself to hardships. |
|
v |
Try to control your
passions. |
|
v |
Endeavor to speak pleasant
and sweet words. |
|
v |
Meditate everyday for
tranquility of mind. |
|
v |
Observe cleanliness in all
things. |
|
v |
Be patient. |
|
v |
Observe self control. |
|
v |
Try to distribute
knowledge, good advice and money to others. |
|
v |
Whenever possible, devote
your services to God, to the wise and to respectable
or elderly individuals. |
|
v |
Be straightforward and
kind. |
|
v |
Avoid irregularity in daily
activities. |
|
v |
Avoid over eating,
overdrinking, too much sexual activity, too much or
too little sleep. |
|
v |
Behave
according to the time and place where you are
residing. |
|
v |
Act always in a courteous
and polite manner. |
|
v |
Control your sense organs. |
|
v |
Make a habit of doing all
that is good and avoiding all that is bad. |
The
ten sins
|
1. |
Himsa (Homicide). |
|
2. |
Astheyam (Theft). |
|
3. |
Anyadha kamam
(Desire for another's spouse). |
|
4. |
Paisoonyam
(Gossip). |
|
5. |
Parusha (Harsh
speech) |
|
6. |
Anrutham (Lying) |
|
7. |
Sambhinnalapam
(Meaningless and ugly conversation). |
|
8. |
Vyapadam
(Venomous act with vengeance.) |
|
9. |
Abhidya (Desire
for other's possessions) |
|
10. |
Drik viparyayam
(Atheism). |
|
|
Rithucharya |
|
Rithucharya are
activities that are specified to be done during the
different seasons. They are, in fact, variations to be
effected in the Dinacharya.
Eg: In
summer daytime sleep is recommended.
Seasons
taken into account are |
| Greeshmam |
Summer |
| Varsham |
Rainy
season |
| Sarath |
Winter |
|
|
|
Seasons known as Hemantham
(early winter), Sisiram (fall) and Vasantham
(spring) are not considered for Charyas
presently. |
|
|
