Article by Dr Raghuram Y.S. MD (Ay) & Dr Manasa S, B.A.M.S
Dina = day, every day
Charya = routine
Ayurveda has given very a lot significance to Dinacharya – the every day routine and its contribution in direction of upkeep of bodily, psychological and emotional well being. It is rather like a calendar of occasions which must be adopted each day. The extra we get habituated and hooked on following these regimens, the more healthy and immune we’re. We are able to maintain away all of the bodily, psychological and emotional issues, which we might in any other case be victims of, whereas following dinacharya habitually.
The Ayurveda treatises, together with the nice trio, Charaka Samhita, Sushruta Samhita and Ashtanga Hridaya and Ashtanga Samgraha have devoted separate chapters for explaining the practices included in Dinacharya which everybody ought to observe so as to maintain themselves wholesome and likewise to take care of optimum well being. The later treatises have additionally adopted the footprints of those treatises.
Although following every and every thing defined within the context of Dinacharya appears impractical within the modern-day life, we are able to attempt to inculcate no less than a few of them into our lives and get habituated to them.
Whereas going via these chapters coping with dinacharya we could admire their contribution in direction of bodily well being, however we could fail to spot their function in sustaining psychological and emotional well being and steadiness since there isn’t any point out of the identical in lots of contexts.
On this article we will look deep into the parts of Dinacharya and see how good their contribution is in direction of upkeep of psychological and emotional well being and steadiness.
Classification of Dina – day for understanding utility of Dinacharya
Dina means a day which extends from dawn to a different dawn i.e. period of 24 hours. The routine adopted in a dina constitutes dinacharya. They are often categorised into the under talked about classes –
– Pratah Charya – all regimens which we might observe in the course of the earliest a part of the day i.e. from earlier than dawn after we get up to few hours extending from there
– Dina / Madhyahna Charya – all regimens that we have to observe throughout the remainder of the day time i.e. from the tip of early morning regimens / rituals to starting of night time
– Sayam Charya – all regimens that we might observe throughout night time i.e. from graduation of night to graduation of night time
– Ratri Charya – all regimens we have to observe throughout night time time i.e. from graduation of night time to the bedtime
- Affect of Day time routine on psychological and emotional well being
On this part, I’ll think about the day time routine because the mixed actions we do in the course of the day time i.e. early morning, day time and midday.
Affect of Awakening early within the morning at Brahma Muhurta on the thoughts
Brahmi or Brahma Muhurta often known as ‘time of the creator’ is the earliest hours of the day earlier than dawn – ‘the pre-dawn’ interval, roughly falls between 3-6 am. Ayurveda advocates waking up at the moment after a accomplished and glad sleep. This contributes in direction of complete body-mind-sensual wellbeing and steadiness.
Advantages of waking up at Brahma Muhurta – ‘the calm and nice morning hours’ in sustaining and balancing thoughts and emotional well being –
It should maintain our thoughts and senses recent and improve alertness with apply.
This is a perfect time for the scholars to review or revise. Issues learnt at the moment will be higher remembered.
Yoga, train, meditation, pooja and Surya Namaskaram achieved throughout this time will create optimistic vibes and can maintain the psychological and emotional well being at optimum ranges and are de-stressing. It should additionally assist in non secular evolution of people and conquer or stop many psychological issues.
This is a perfect time for Exercising, strolling and jogging at the moment will maintain us greatest oxygenated and the early morning sunrays would offer us with vitamin D provides that are vital for our body-mind-emotional well being.
Balanced Prana Vata, Sadhaka Pitta and Tarpaka Kapha are chargeable for wholesome nervous and psychological features and so are excessive ranges of Sattva high quality of thoughts and balanced state of rajas and tamas qualities of the thoughts. Brahmi Muhurta may have a optimistic affect on these parts and contribute in direction of serene mind-emotional well being.
Affect of Voiding urine and feces early within the morning on thoughts well being
One ought to clean up by voiding urine and feces the very first thing within the morning. When the physique will get freed from its impurities, the thoughts and senses would get relaxed. That’s the reason one would say ‘I want to clean up’ when she or he needs to evacuate their bladder or bowel.
Affect of Oral Well being and Hygiene on thoughts and feelings
The under talked about actions are beneficial for upkeep of oral well being and to steadiness the doshas within the mouth, head and sense organs. They’re –
Achamana – sipping of water – gives first hydration early within the morning after waking up, prompts bodhaka kapha and regulates the udakavaha srotas – channels of water transport system within the physique. It’s the first rejuvenation of physique and thoughts that we might do within the day. We additionally activate the kapha system since it’s dominant at day time.
Danta Dhavana (brushing the enamel), Kavala (mouth wash), Gandusha (gargles) and Jihva Nirlekhana (tongue scraping) – These aren’t simply the regimens we do to cleanse the mouth, enamel, throat and tongue; additionally they have a superb and optimistic affect on the thoughts. We see that when our oral cavity, enamel or tongue is soiled or when we’ve distaste within the mouth because of some illness like fever and many others, the thoughts rejects the meals or doesn’t admire its style despite it being tasty. So a clear and recent mouth is the receptacle for the meals.
The meals we eat and the drinks we devour are accepted by our physique solely when they’re interesting and pleasing to the thoughts, via their style and sight and timing of meals. So the meals that we eat passes via the pathways of seats of indriyas i.e. sense organs to the thoughts and it’s the thoughts which accepts or rejects the meals. It is because the thoughts can also be an indriya.
Freshness of mouth led to by these regimens of dinacharya would maintain the thoughts recent and wholesome.
The thoughts won’t ever be recent and wholesome if we don’t brush or clear our oral cavity.
Affect of Anjana – collyrium on psychological and emotional well being
Anjana – means utility of collyrium to the eyes. It’s not solely a routine for eye care but in addition provides a glow and luster to the eyes. It contributes to the beautification and therefore is a vital a part of Ayurveda magnificence remedy. Historically many ladies apply anjana, males can too. Medicinal anjanas have therapeutic, preventive and healing worth too. Eye is claimed to be the pradhana indriya i.e. the chief sense organ amongst all sense organs. Having stunning, enticing and wholesome eyes at all times retains one blissful and proud and happiness is a way of thinking and balanced psychological and emotional state. And Manas can also be an Indriya as already mentioned.
Affect of Snana – Bathing and different magnificence measures on psychological and emotional well being
The under talked about regimens talked about in Dinacharya would assist in enhancing the temper and induce freshness within the thoughts and senses. They maintain us blissful, optimistic and motivated all through the day and needs to be habitually practiced and achieved each day. They’re –
– Snana – bathing
– Anulepana – anointment of pastes – magnificence lotions, deodorants, perfumes and many others.
– Vastra dharana – sporting new and recent garments
– Mala dharana – sporting of garlands (clipping flowers to the scalp hairs as is finished by many ladies these days)
We additionally see that many individuals are emotionally connected with specific sorts of soaps, shampoos, perfumes, deodorants and garments.
Sporting clear garments and garlands or flowers are good for balancing vata, pitta and manas. Totally different colours have completely different therapeutic or aggravating results on people and are thus nice or disagreeable for the thoughts.
Affect of Dhumapana – medicated smoking and Nasya – errhine, nasal instillation of medicines on psychological and emotional well being
Dhumapana, aside from curing the vata and kapha illnesses ocuring on the head and neck may also cleanse the seats of indriyas i.e. eyes, ears and nostril enabling their correct functioning and notion. It additionally opens up the channels of the thoughts and creates freshness therein.
Nasa – nostril is claimed to be the door of the pinnacle and head is the seat of manas and indriyas. Small dose of nasya administered as a part of dinacharya imparts a optimistic affect on the manas and indriyas and retains them wholesome. It strengthens the nerves and senses additionally and elevates the temper. Correct sleep and awakening and pleasantness of the thoughts are the indicators of correctly achieved nasya. By balancing the primary operational dosha subtypes within the head i.e. Prana Vayu, Sadhaka Pitta and Tarpaka Kapha, Nasya would maintain the stress beneath examine and thoughts in a nice state.
Affect of Vyayama and Chankramana on psychological and emotional well being
Vyayama – Train needs to be achieved every day. It reduces the physique fats and morbid kapha and likewise retains the agni energetic. This agni digests the meals we devour correctly and the diet derived from it nourishes the physique, thoughts and senses. Stability of thoughts additionally will depend on the steadiness of agni. Common train retains us match and wholesome. Being wholesome is happiness – sukha, which is a topic and way of thinking.
Chankramana – is a light type of train, like strolling, that has an identical affect on the thoughts as Vyayama.
Affect of Abhyanga and its variants on psychological and emotional well being and steadiness
All variants of Abhyanga achieved as a every day routine present the most effective body-mind rest and relieve ache, filth and fatigue. They embody – Abhyanga (natural oil therapeutic massage), Samvahana (light utility of oils), Pada Abhyanga (foot therapeutic massage) and Shiro Abhyanga (head therapeutic massage). Udwarthana i.e. therapeutic massage achieved with medicated powders in upward route, has comparable results aside from lowering the physique fat and morbid kapha.
Head is the seat of indriyas, manas and buddhi. The thoughts and senses are rejuvenated particularly after a Shiro Abhyanga. Pada is a Karmendriya – organ of motion and is linked to Manas, which can also be an indriya. Subsequently Padabhyanga gives rest of thoughts and induces good sleep.
Many individuals would get emotional whereas present process completely different sorts of massages and oil therapies. There’s emotional discharge and plenty of would cry. They’d really feel pampered, beloved and cared for.
Since these are expensive procedures, it’s impractical to get them achieved day-after-day. It’s good to conduct these regimens by one self. It will permit them to pamper themselves and maintain join with their physique, thoughts, senses and feelings.
Abhyanga and Samvahana would additionally calm the thoughts by balancing vata, relieving tiredness and fatigue and inducing sleep.
Affect of self-protective measures of Dinacharya on psychological and emotional well being
Beneath talked about measures talked about in Dinacharya are for self-protection and care. This retains the individual in a state of consciousness at all times feeling that she or he too is a vital a part of the creation and must be taken care of. The satisfaction of being protected retains the thoughts happy and likewise wards off the worry.
– Raksha karma – Protecting measures
– Pada prakshalana – Washing of toes
– Padatra dharana – Sporting of foot put on
– Danda dharana – Holding stick for self safety
– Kavacha dharana – Sporting of protecting masking over the physique
– Keshya dharana – Sporting turbans
– Chatra dharana – Holding umbrella
-
Affect of Night Routine on psychological and emotional well being
Ayurveda has laid restrictions on sure actions which shouldn’t be achieved in the course of the night time. Night right here pertains to the junction between midday and night i.e. finish of night and starting of night – on the level of sundown. The time of sundown is claimed to not be auspicious for doing sure actions as a result of there’s declining solar, daytime and light-weight – which displays positivity. If achieved, these actions may have a unfavorable affect on the physique, thoughts, soul, senses and feelings. Beneath talked about are these actions –
– Bhojana – meals consumption
– Maithuna – sexual activity
– Nidra – sleep
– Adhyayana – studying
– Gamana – strolling
-
Affect of Ratricharya – Night time Routine on psychological and emotional well being
Washing the fingers after consuming meals, cleaning the tooth, washing the mouth and chewing betel leaves wouldn’t solely clean up the mouth but in addition would have a soothing impact on thoughts and senses.
Sleep is claimed to be one of many three upastambhas – supporting pillars of our life. A correctly balanced sleep has a really robust optimistic affect on not solely bodily well being but in addition on psychological and sensual well being. Sleep relieves stress, worries and unfavorable feelings and retains the thoughts and senses calm and wholesome.
Intercourse is likely one of the greatest stress-busters and a primary want, aside from procreation. It retains the thoughts and senses calm and relaxed. Upastha – sexual organ is an indriya and has a detailed relationship and chemistry with the thoughts, which can also be an indriya.
Good sleep balances tridoshas and enhances the sattva guna of the manas.
Physique and thoughts are two sides of the identical coin. These that are good for the physique are typically good for the thoughts additionally and the converse can also be true. So, their well being is interrelated. Dinacharya and the regimens talked about therein which must be practiced every day appears to be like like having a optimistic well being affect on the physique, however additionally they have a direct or oblique affect on the thoughts and feelings.
Some regimens assist in balancing the doshas on the bodily degree which might assist in sustaining good bodily well being and would additionally complement by contributing in direction of psychological and emotional wellbeing additionally. Examples – vyayama, chankramana, udwarthana, kavacha, ahara, vyavaya, dhumapana and many others.
However, some regimens of dinacharya may have a direct affect on the thoughts and would contribute in direction of psychological and emotional well being and steadiness.
Instance – awakening early within the morning at Brahmi Muhurta, Alepana – anointments, Snana – tub, Shiro Abhyanga – head therapeutic massage, Nidra – sleep, and many others.
There are another regimens talked about in Dinacharya which might produce freshness of thoughts and steadiness psychological well being. Examples – Danta Dhavana, Kavala and Gandusha, Snana, Mukha Prakshalana, Vyayama, Vyavaya, Vastra Dharana, Mala Dharana, Sugandha Dharana and many others.
All these talked about regimens improve the sattva guna of the thoughts. Stability of sattva high quality of the thoughts could be very a lot important for maintaining the thoughts nice. One will be capable of assume and make choices in an affordable manner provided that his or her thoughts is nice and serene. This may also maintain the stress ranges away and would assist one to conduct self and all actions in a superb and sensible manner. Other than rising the sattva high quality of the thoughts, these regimens may also maintain away the manasika doshas – contaminants of thoughts i.e. raja and tama qualities at examine. By doing so, one can maintain psychological illnesses, unfavorable feelings and ideas away.
A few of these regimens are very a lot conducive for good well being of the sense organs. They not solely promote their well being but in addition allow correct notion. Examples are –
– Danta dhavana, jihva lekhana, kavala and gandusha, tambula sevana – contribute in direction of oral well being and well being of tongue which is an indriya of style notion
– Anjana contributes in direction of the well being of eyes and imaginative and prescient, that are seats of indriyas of sight notion. Comparable is the affect of consumption of Triphala churna after dinner.
– Abhyanga and Udwarthana contribute in direction of pores and skin well being and so do Snana and Anulepana. Pores and skin is the seat of indriya of tactile notion.
– Nasya takes care of nasal well being, which is the seat of indriya of odor notion.
The affect of steadiness of the indriyas and their perceptive energy can also be linked to the steadiness of psychological well being as a result of what has been perceived by the indriyas go via the manas and manas is a vital part within the means of gaining data / cognition.