Jyeshtha Māsa – May 2 – June 29

Jyeshtha masa brings with it heat and intensity and stillness. And ushers in one of the most relentless seasons of the year – Grishma rtu. This is the last season of Sun dominance or Uttarayana, which is the first half of solar divisions of the year. This six-months-long phase is the time of Agneya or Sun, where the power of the Sun and its heat increase till reaching their pinnacle in Grishma rtu. Then the heat of the Sun gives way to the coolness of Dakshinayana.

The Sun and its dazzling brilliance are the defining characteristic of both the months of summer – Jyeshtha and Ashadha. The heat is blistering and the light of the Sun is dazzling. It is also relentless. Slowly but surely, as the season progresses, the earth becomes parched. All living beings become thirsty and feel desiccated. The heat is also enervating – depleting all living beings of energy. The hush of a heat shimmer drapes across the land, making it feel still.

It is a difficult season to endure. All living beings seek shade, look for cooling relief and begin to long for the arrival of the season of water – Varsha rtu.

But even to this dry and withering season and its two months are delights and pleasures. Dusk, when the fiery energy of the Sun recedes for the day, is a time of deeply felt relief. And once, it was the time to reset our systems by adorning our hair with fresh Mogra flowers and enjoying the cooling delight of sherbets and colds sweets like Kulfi. And no moonlight night feels as soothing as a summer night – just looking at the velvety darkness of the sky and the soft radiance of the Moon offers a sensory reprieve from the blinding harshness of a summer day. There are other, more visceral delights to be enjoyed in Grishma rtu – wearing crisp white Cotton clothes, the airiness offered by pure Mulmul, the charm of Silver jewellery, the cooling relief of the colour indigo, the deeply grounding scent of Sandalwood, the earthiness of Vetiver water… but it pales in delight when compared to the absolute, indescribable perfection of the taste of a ripe Mango.

So, for all that it asks us to endure, Grishma and its two months also offer us incomparable delights. And in its offering teaches us the importance and meaning of balance.

Adhik Masa

This year the traditional month of Jyeshtha is unusual because it has the addition of an intercalary month, i.e., extra days are counted in this month in order to maintain harmony with the solar year. This addition is known as Adhik Masa. So, Jyeshtha masa runs for a total of 57 days this year.

In the Gregorian calendar, which is purely Solar, the only intercalary day needed for the calendar to remain synchronous with the Solar cycle is the extra day added to February every fourth year, which is then known as the leap year. In the Luni-Solar calendar, which is the traditional Panchang calendar, the difference of approximately 10 days between the Solar calendar (365.2 days) and the Lunar calendar (354.3 days) is reconciled by the addition of an extra month – Adhik Masa every third year.

Rtucharya

The qualities and impact of each of the six seasons upon the human body and mind has been addressed in detail in Ayurveda. This is the prescribed Rtucharya – the recommendations for food to avoid and eat, physical activity, selfcare and even behaviour, that will keep us in optimal physical and mental health by aligning us to the rtu.

In this month of heat the brilliance of the Sun saps our energy. Ruska or dryness is the dominant characteristic of Grishma rtu– there is a dearth of moisture in the environment and this in turn leads to a depletion of energy in our bodies.

Dehydration, exhaustion and a lack of energy are common during this season. The heat of this Pitta dominant season also weakens our digestive Agni. We need to consume foods that are light on digestion and are cooling and hydrating to counter the drying heat that surrounds us. Here are some traditional staples for Grishma rtu. Each offers its own health benefits.

• Onion Raita: 1 Onion, finely chopped + 1 Tbsp fresh Coriander, finely chopped + 1 cup of Yoghurt + 2 to 3 Green Chillies, deseeded and finely chopped + Salt, Pepper & roasted Cumin seeds as per taste. Mix and enjoy as delicious accompaniment to meals.

Onions offer a high concentration of vitamins A, B & C, antioxidants and iron. The pungent Onion can help with digestive issues by stimulating the release of digestive juices. It can also promote good bacteria in the gut. Onion also offers potassium and sodium, which can help maintain the right electrolyte balance in the body. But most of all Onions contain volatile oils which can help in regulating body temperature, keeping us cool as the heat rises. For best results it should be consumed raw or very lightly cooked. But if its pungent taste is too strong for you, try a traditional summer raita.

• Jal Jeera Dry Mix: Take 1 Tbsp each of: Dry roasted Cumin seeds + Cumin seed powder (dry roasted & ground) + Aamchur powder (raw Mango powder) + Jaggery powder. Add Black Salt as per taste. Mix and keep in an airtight container.

To make: Blend 1 Tbsp of fresh Coriander and Mint leaves with a little water to create a paste. To this paste add dry mix (1/2 Tbsp or as per taste) and 2 glasses of water and stir. Keep aside for a few hours for the flavours to meld. Ideally keep in a terracotta bottle or vessel for a subtle earthy taste. Serve chilled.

This simple drink balances three tastes: sour, salty and sweet. Cumin supports our digestive system, which is much needed in the Summer season when our digestive fires weaken. A gentle appetite stimulant, Cumin can also help with keeping our blood sugar levels stable. Each of the traditional ingredients offers its own taste and health benefits; Jaggery can help support liver function, Mint and raw Mango powder can help provide a vitamin boost and support the digestive system.

• Gond Katira: Soak a teaspoon of Gond crystals overnight in a bowl of water. By the morning it transforms into a soft jelly. Take a teaspoon of the jelly and stir into a glass of water or milk. For taste you can add some sugar or sherbet.

Gond Katira (Tragacanth gum) is a resin derived from the sap of plants in the Astragalus family. Gond Katira is ideal for use during the two months of summer due to its intense cooling and hydrating properties. Along with cooling, Gond Katira also offers us calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium and fibre. It also has trace amounts of iron and zinc. Thus, in addition to its cooling and hydrating benefits, Gond Katira also works as a healthy natural laxative. Beyond that it also helps our skin be more healthy. It has an inflammatory impact as well.

But there are some cautions:

Adequate Hydration: It must never be consumed alone – it must always be consumed with adequate water – at least one full glass of water for a teaspoon of Gond Katira jelly.

Allergic reaction: Some people may have an allergic reaction – so the first time you try it please be on the lookout for the symptoms of an allergy – skin rash, itchiness, swelling or difficulty breathing. Please seek immediate medical help in the last case.

Overconsumption: Less is definitely more. Too much can lead to digestive issues such as bloating and gas or an upset stomach. A teaspoon a day is more than enough.

Lastly, Gond Katira is not the same as Gond. The former is cooling and thus ideal for Summers while the latter is heating and ideal during Winters.

Summer Scents

Summer was once the season of fragrance – the earthy scent of Khus, the sensuous sweetness of Champaka and the eroticism of Mogra and the coolness of Sandalwood paste.

In this season of relentless heat when we all long for coolness, scents can often provide relief and delight. Jasmine, Sandalwood and Vetiver are the scents that make an Indian summer such an olfactory delight. Apart from the delight their scent offers, each of these traditionally used flower or wood also offer therapeutic benefits for coping with the season’s impact. All three fragrances help our bodies and minds keep calm. Among other benefits Sandalwood also has a relaxing effect on our nervous system.

The deep, earthy fragrance of Vetiver sings to us of dark and damp earth at a time when our senses are feeling parched. Once our homes were perfumed with Vetiver during hot summer months. Because traditional chiks (blinds) made of Vetiver hung in the verandahs and balconies to filter the harsh brightness of the summer Sun. And these chiks were sprinkled with water, making them release the earthy scent of Vetiver.

The sensuous sweetness of Jasmine is the scent of summer evenings. Once it was traditional to wear garlands of Jasmine around the hair or the wrist or neck come summer evenings. You can even place some fresh flowers in a Silver or glass bowl and sprinkle them with water to create a fragrant ambience.

But it is Sandalwood that offers the perfect blend of delight and cooling relief. There is something magical in the fragrance of true Sandalwood. It speaks of patience and peace, of the contentment that comes from experiencing the richness of all the seasons of life.

Traditionally Sandalwood oil was only produced from a tree that was at least 60 years old. First a tree would be uprooted during Varsha rtu or monsoon because that is when the tree is richest in oil. Then the tree would be left where it was in the forest till white ants ate away the odourless sapwood or outer layer, revealing the inner part which is known as heartwood. From this came Sandalwood oil. No wonder then that its oil is equal parts mystical and delightful and often known as the scent of the gods. Summer is the season to time of indulge our senses with the beauty and delight of these fragrances.

Rituals of Self Care

We share again some of our most loved rituals of selfcare for the season of heat.

• Silver, the metal once attributed to the Moon, has traditionally been associated with cooling properties. Hence, drinking water that has been kept in a Silver vessel or glass overnight is a traditional morning ritual thought to be beneficial during the Summer season. This is especially recommended for Pitta prone people.
• Refrigerate pure Rose Water (ideally in a glass bottle). Spritz your face with it for awakening and refreshing your skin instantly throughout the day.
• A tilak of pure Chandan (Sandalwood) paste on the forehead can help keep our nervous system calm while its fragrance has a grounding and cooling effect on our senses.
• Wearing fresh Jasmine flowers in our hair or around the neck in a garland can be a deeply refreshing and uplifting summer ritual of delight.
• Do please keep a large terracotta bowl filled with water on your terrace or balcony. This will attract an extraordinary number of birds of different types throughout the day. Refill the bowl as needed because it will be getting used a lot.

To Jyeshtha masa, the first month of unrelenting heat and brilliant light there is its own natural beauty – the melodious call of the Koel on long hot afternoons, the fragile fragrance and beauty of Madhu Malati blooms, the sweetness of a perfectly ripened Mango, the tart taste of cold Aam Panna, the simplicity of white clothes, the brightness beauty of Amaltas blooms, the arrival of dusk… it is a list filled with small delights.

As the scorching heat settles over the land in a blanketing stillness, we learn to find joy in the simplest and smallest of things. And that, perhaps, is the point of Grishma rtu.

May the relentless heat of Jyeshtha masa be balanced with moments of intense delights.