Nilakshi Sharma
As the month of Āshādha starts, the scorching intensity of Grishma rtu reaches its peak. The hot, blazing Sun is relentless and its ferocity inescapable. We yearn for the little but delightful moments of relief – a tall, cooling glass of tart Nimbu Paani or the indescribable sweetness of a ripe Mango. And the long, languid, shaded afternoons of Grishma is when the shroud of heat lulls us all towards a dreamy idleness. And dusk brings with it the wafting scent of Mogra or Navamallika, refreshing and entrancing the senses.
The Beauty of Grishma
The intensity of Grishma has inspired many poets and writers. In the classical poetry of the subcontinent, this heat has been described as one that leaves the animals parched, frightens the birds, dries up the rivers and can make the forest look like “a fearful sight with water diminished everywhere in the heat of a glaring sun”. But in this season of fierce heat there is also the beautiful relief of the Moon. Poets have described moonlit Summer nights on cool terraces. Lovers embrace each other in the fragrance of the night-blooming Jasmine. And women who smear Sandalwood paste on their breasts to keep their bodies cool.
Grishma rtu has also inspired musicians. In the Ragamala of classical Indian music a Raga (melodic framework) definitively represents every Season. Raga Deepak is the classical composition of Grishma. Speaking of intense heat and fire, this raga is rarely ever performed. An anecdotal story about Raga Deepak associates it with Tansen, the famous singer of Akbar’s court.
Tansen’s music was so soothing and his voice so melodious that he was always adored by Akbar. Akbar’s admiration for Tansen was, however, not easily digested by all, especially Tansen’s fellow courtiers. Resenting Tansen’s popularity they hatched a clever plan to ruin his reputation. The courtiers got together and urged Akbar to make Tansen sing Raga Deepak, for who else could sing such a powerful raga other than Akbar’s favourite? It was believed that when sung correctly, Raga Deepak was so potent that it could not just light the lamps in the court but also burn the singer himself. Tansen knew the dangers of singing Raga Deepak but he also could not refuse the King. So, he accepted Akbar’s request but asked for some time to prepare for his performance.
Tansen knew exactly what the courtiers had in mind, so he created a contingency. While he himself prepared to sing Raga Deepak, he had his two daughters practice as well.
The day of the performance arrived. Tansen began singing. The crowd waited with bated breath. The air began to get warmer and warmer, until everyone in the court was sweating profusely. Leaves dried up and fell off the branches, water in the fountains started to evaporate… and then the lamps came to life, blazing fire.
And immediately his daughters started singing Raga Megh, the raga that sings of the life-giving waters of the Monsoon and invites the clouds to bring forth rains. The clouds arrived and began to rain and so Tansen’s life was saved.
Whether it is true or not, is perhaps not the point of the legend. This story is perhaps a testament to both, the power of music and the characteristic intensities of each season of the subcontinent. But as a legend, this story in turn inspired painters. And so came the typical composition known as Raga Deepak. It depicts a man and a woman, sitting in a room where small earthen lamps are lit, while they listen to a musician perform. A line of poetry, associated with Raga Deepak, is sometimes included:
“Darkness covered the lady’s chamber till Deepak entered, lord of the dazzling rays; she covered her face bashful and timid, he abandons his heart and is conquered.”
Illustration from a Ragamala series: Dipak Raga, North India, Rajasthan, Amber or Jaipur, first half 18th century.
The flame of the Deepak is akin to a miniature Sun. It illuminates the darkness and enchants our hearts. But when left unguarded it can also burn and destroy. And in no season is that fact more starkly tangible than in Grishma rtu, when the Sun dazzles us all with its intensity.
Grishma & Self Care
“But—a lake covered with lotus blooms,
pleasant bathing in its waters,
the lovely scent of trumpet flowers,
moonlight spreading a web enjoyable,
and, at night, some music sweet
with beautiful and charming maidens
on the terrace of a mansion:
thus happily, may your summer pass.”
Ritusamharam: A Gathering of Seasons
Kalidasa
The scorching days of Grishma rtu seem never ending in their ferocity. And while this is the time to enjoy the simple pleasures; piercingly sweet Mangoes and tart Aam Panna, juicy watermelon and long shaded afternoons, the cool beauty of moonlit nights and the delight of water; we are all by now longing for the arrival of Monsoons. The season of heat will reach its apotheosis with the Summer Solstice – when we will experience the longest day in the Northern Hemisphere. The Summer Solstice will be on June 21 in the Northern Hemisphere. This is the day when the Northern pole of the Earth has its maximum tilt towards the Sun, making it the longest day and the shortest night of the year. In the Southern hemisphere, however, the opposite is experienced.
Across the world, the Summer Solstice has been celebrated and acknowledged by many names such as Midsommar, Gathering Day, Sonnwend, among others. After the Summer Solstice we begin to visibly see the transitions towards the second half of the year, with the days beginning to shorten in minute increments and slowly but surely the ferocity of the Sun will also lessen.
But before it does, we still have to find ways to deal with the impact of this heat on our body and mind. Ayurveda sees Grishma as Pitta season when the fiery qualities of the environment can cause Pitta dosha in our body to go out of balance more readily.
The organ where this impact can be most easily felt is our eyes. Because the eyes are one of the seats of Pitta in the body. The heat of the season coupled with long hours spent looking at screens of one kind or another can manifest as dry, irritated or even achy eyes. Traditionally there are some simple practices that can soothe the eyes.
- Eye Palming: From the moment we awaken to the moment we fall asleep, our eyes are working constantly. We absorb and assimilate the most through our eyes. This constant inflow of sensory information can strain not just the eyes but also our nervous system. A beautiful way of reducing the stress then is Eye Palming. Take a deep breath, close your eyes and briskly rub your palms together for 15 seconds and immediately cup your closed eyes with your hands. Relax in this position with your eyes closed for at least a minute. Then slowly open your eyes, with your palms still cupping them. Let the eyes adjust before removing hands. There should be no pressure on the eyelids when cupping.
- Cooling Eye Pack: The simplest remedy for refreshing tired eyes is a cold compress. Soak a clean muslin cloth in ice cold water and place over your eyes for a cooling break. Or you can soak cotton pads in chilled organic Rose Water and place the pads over your eyelids for a few relaxing minutes. Along with the eyes, this practice also provides relief to our mind and nervous system.
- Cooling Choices: Grishma is the season of the colour white and pure cotton. While the colour white offers us sensorial relief, cotton offers the comfort of breathability, which in turn helps our skin and our health. Traditionally, Silver has been revered as the metal of the Moon, imbued with cooling properties. So Summer is also the time to wear silver jewellery and use silver utensils to drink water. Another way to keep your body and mind cool during this time of intense heat is to drink water infused with Vetiver roots. Vetiver or Khus carries with it the taste and scent of the loamy depths of cool earth and in Ayurveda it is considered cooling for the body. Store water ideally in an earthen ware utensil and infuse Vetiver roots for a few hours before drinking the water.
Even as the intensity of the Sun reaches its zenith in Āshādha māsa, the last week of the month begins to give way to the relief of the oncoming season of water. This period of transition is known as Rtusandhi and is an ideal time to help our bodies adapt from the scorching dry heat of Summer to the intensity of water in Monsoon. The transition must not be sudden, it should be gradual, changing slowly everyday – just like the Nature around us. Gradually, our meals should shift from being cooling to being hot and yet, light and easy to digest, consisting of broths or pulses with a generous helping of Desi Ghee. Most importantly we should take the time to listen to our bodies in this time of shifting seasons and see where we need to adapt our practices to ensure that we strengthen our immune system by supporting it. But before we prepare to bid farewell to Grishma rtu, take a minute to enjoy the small delights of the season – the sweetness of the Mangoes and the Litchis; the cooling relief of Coconut water and the red delight of a ripe Watermelon; the beauty of white Cotton and the sheen of Silver and the piercing call of the Koel that cuts through the still heat of a Summer afternoon.