Nilakshi Sharma
Vasanta is also the season when cuckoos sing in indistinct notes; the bees hum
intoxicating sweet sounds; and the travellers separated from their lovers, lament.
Kama the god of love who wages a war, as it were, on those in love,
fashions his arrows from the mango blossom;
his bow from the kimsuka flower; the bowstring from a row of bees.
His parasol is the moon; and he wafts the gentle breeze from the Malaya mountain
whose bards are the cuckoos.
Ritusamharam
Kalidasa
Chaitra māsa, the first month of Basant rtu, is described as Pushpa-māsa in Ramayana, one of the oldest epics of the subcontinent. It is a time of beauty; after the long quietude of Winter, Basant rtu arrives with a riot of colours and constant movement. As if the earth is celebrating her awakening after a long slumber. Flowers bloom in every riotous abandon, bees drunk on nectar buzz from flower to flower, the bright green of new leaves covers trees, birdsong fills the air and through it all a balmy breeze blows. In Basant rtu we are surrounded by vividity and beauty.
Basant rtu is also the traditional herald of new beginnings. In the traditional Hindu calendars of the subcontinent, Basant rtu signals the start of the annual cycle of six seasons – the Samvatsara. To this season of renewal and fresh starts there is an inherent sense of vitality and movement. In the Bhagavad Gita, Spring is described as the King of the six seasons when Lord Krishna reveals his attributes thus: “I am the Soul in the body, the Mind in the senses… and of the seasons, I am Spring”.
After the lassitude of Winter, Spring is the time of an awakening in all the senses.
Spring Cleaning
Spring brings with it a thawing; just as the snow begins to melt into water that flows down to us as rivers, so too in our bodies the Kapha dosha accumulation of Winter begins to melt. Kapha, also known as the “dosha of substance” is one that offers us qualities of stability and heaviness. It builds immunity, creates lubrication for the joints and provides strength to the body. But in excess it leads to lethargy, weight gain and excess mucus that in turn leads to congestion. Typically, “in Spring the Kapha accumulated in winter melts, producing allergy and fatigue.” We need to undertake practices that will help our bodies eliminate the excess and acclimate our bodies to the qualities of the Spring season, which are those of Vata dosha. These practices can also help those of us who experience a flare up of allergies in this season due to the abundance of pollen and dust in the air. In effect we need to Spring clean our bodies and minds.
As per Dr Vasant Lad, an Ayurvedic doctor and practitioner, Chaitra is a good time to cleanse and detoxify the body and to bring it into balance. Some of the gentle practices that can help are shared below:
Bitter Foods: Eat Bitter, Astringent and Pungent tasting foods during this month. Avoid or at least moderate consumption of Sour, Sweet and Salty tasting foods.
Neem: The best of bitter tastes lies in Neem, which traditionally has been known as the poor man’s pharmacy in the subcontinent. In the month of Chaitra the tender new leaves of Neem come forth. Eat a few of these tender new leaves every morning on an empty stomach for a fortnight.
Caution: Do not consume regularly for more than a few days. Please do consult with a physician if you are on any medical prescription or are pregnant.
Fasting: Fasting is a traditional practice that helps our bodies to adapt better to the changes in the environment that each season brings. Depending upon your tolerance you can opt for a full day fast or even undertake the traditional nine-day long Navratri fasting for the Chaitra Navratri which will begin on 30 March this year. The austerity of the fast undertaken depends upon your tolerance and health – fast only as much as your body can withstand without depleting itself.
Digestive Tisane: Dr Lad recommends drinking a tisane of Ginger, Black Pepper & Cinnamon after each meal in this season. Or you can have the Cumin, Coriander & Fennel Tea: Steep 1/3 teaspoon of each in a cup of hot water for 10 minutes and then strain and drink. This is a gentle but effective decoction that supports digestive health and enhances gut health.
Kapha Pacifying Oil Massage: Massaging the body can be an excellent way of stimulating and invigorating the body, especially when the type of massage is tailored to help us deal with excess Kapha accumulation. In order to pacify Kapha, the oil used should be either Sesame oil or Mustard oil, which is especially good for stimulating Agni in the skin. Use gentle long strokes with circular movements for joints such as the knees and elbows. After massage avoid exposure to cold and wind (such as an air-conditioned room or even a fan on a high speed). Ideally rest and wait for at least 30 minutes before bathing with traditional cleansing grains such as an Ubtan instead of soap. Lukewarm water should be used.
Caution: If your digestive Agni is very low then opt for the Dry powder massage as that will be more effective.
Dry Powder Massage: “Dry powder massages are heating, stimulating and dehydrating, making them beneficial for weak agni and excess kapha.” Regular dry powder massage “tones and exfoliates the skin, reduces fat tissue and weight, makes the skin radiant and glowing and improves skin complexion. It removes bad body odour and toxins and cleanses the skin.” For best results lightly oil the whole body with Sesame seed oil first. Then take the dry powder mix and starting with the feet, massage the body upwards using gentle long strokes. The massage movements should always be in the direction opposite of hair growth. After massage rest in a warm environment for at least 30 minutes before rinsing the body with warm or lukewarm water. The recipe for the Dry Powder Massage is from the Sivananda Yoga Centre.
300g Chickpea flour + 2tbsp each of dried Basil, dried Sage & finely ground Rock Salt + 1tbsp each of Neem powder, & Triphala or Amla powder. Mix all the powders and store in an airtight container.
Festivals of Basant
In the season that showcases both the beauty and the bounty of the earth many traditional harvest festivals and festivals that mark the start of the new Rtu Chakra are celebrated. Apart from the Navratri, two beautiful festivals of Chaitra are centred around welcoming the new year.
In Maharashtra Gudi Padwa is celebrated on the first day of waxing Moon phase in the month of Chaitra. This year it comes on March 30. It coincides with the start of the Chaitra Navratri. Colourful rangolis and decorations of welcome such as torans adorn households in the Marathi and Konkani regions of India. The festivities include food and singing and dancing and special street processions. For the Sindhi community too this is a day of celebrations and the start of a new year.
In parts of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana this same day, March 30, is celebrated as Ugadi. And a ritual aspect of the festivities centres around food. On this day a traditional dish that is served is the Ugadi Pachadi. It is a simple dish made with Jaggery, raw Mango, Tamarind, Neem flowers, Salt and Green Chilli; and it comprises all the six flavours identified by Ayurveda: Sweet, Sour, Salty, Bitter, Pungent and Astringent. But this simple dish offers the most significant of life lessons – like each flavour and taste, life will consist of different seasons and phases.
Chaitra was once known by another name – Madhu, mentioned in the Taittiriya Samhita. According to a Sanskrit scholar the names of the two months of Spring – Madhu and Mādhava, in this context mean the ‘season most esteemed or best known’. The name Madhu also has connotations of sweetness, especially that of Honey, which is also known as Madhu. In this month of fragrant flowers and drowsing bees, the balmy beauty of Basant rtu gladdens every heart.
May this month of beauty and fragrant breeze offer you delight.
