Nilakshi Sharma
Mārgashirsha māsa is the first of the four months of the Winter season and the first month of Hemanta rtu. Margashirsha is a time of transition and transformation. The golden warmth and beauty of Sharad rtu now begins to fade, to give way to a softer colour palette, to nature that seems to be becoming quieter, preparing for the replenishment that Winter hibernation will bring. Day by day the warmth of the Sun begins to decrease, the blue begins to slowly leach out of the sky and dusk arrives earlier every day, bringing with it a palpable chill. As the light of day begins to feel more suffused the sparkling gaiety of the festivities of Sharad rtu clearly gives way to a sense of silence. Each morning the sparkling, gilded clarity of Sharad rtu is shrouded by a little bit more fog. And soon, the frost begins to glisten in the first rays of the morning Sun.
All of these subtle transformations that characterise Mārgashirsha tell us that this is the time to slow down, to transition from the time of activity and celebration to a time of interiority, to a time of stillness and silence.
Rituals of Transition
As per Ayurveda, in Mārgashirsha māsa the Vata energy dominance of Sharad rtu slowly makes way for Kapha energy. Thus the energy of movement and Air gives way to the stability of Earth and the depth of Water. The shift from one season to the next always involves a shift in energy and when we struggle to adapt to this change we experience what we call “the change-in-season flu”.
Traditional cultural, spiritual and Ayurvedic practices evolved rooted in this knowledge. But so many of these practices have been forgotten or neglected. Here we share some of the traditional practices that are ideal for Mārgashirsha, the month of energy transition.
Abhyanga: Vata, often called the king of doshas is key to balance. Pitta is the energy of fire and transformation. And Kapha is the energy of stability and re-building. Abhayanga, the Ayurvedic ritual of massaging your body with gently warmed oil is a practice that can help us deal with imbalances in all three doshas. The practice itself is simple – take gently warmed oil and slowly, consciously massage your entire body. Try and massage towards the heart. Rub the oil in gentle circles on each joint. Let the oil settle into your skin and body for 15 to 30 minutes. Bathe with warm water and use a traditional ubtan instead of soap. For best results it should be done daily but even doing this two to three times a week will be highly beneficial. It is a grounding, calming practice, one that asks you to pay attention to your physical self.
The oil you choose can be tailored to your specific needs. If you feel restless and your mind is chock a full of thoughts and your skin is dry try a nourishing oil like Sesame seed oil. If you experience the activeness and overthinking stress a cooling oil like Coconut is considered ideal but not during winters, thus you can opt for other lighter oils like Apricot or Almond seed oil. If you feel lethargic and heavy then try a massage with an inherently warming oil like Mustard seed oil. As a general rule Sesame seed oil works well for the ritual of Abhyanga for all three doshas. So you can start your practice with Sesame and then deepen it with an oil or an Ayurvedic oil blend tailored to your specific needs.
One of the key results of this practice is deeply nourished skin. But another is how calming and grounding this ritual can be.
Tisanes: Ayurveda is a definitive example of how eating the right foods and spices can help stave off the need for medication. As the season’s energy changes some simple tisanes and traditional concoctions can help our bodies acclimate better to the seasonal change and even act as remedies.
According to Ayurvedic doctor Dr Vasant Lad the best remedy for colds is Ginger and the best remedy for phlegm or congestion is Black Pepper. Here are some recipes and tips shared by him:
—- Combine Dry Ginger powder 1 part + Cinnamon powder 1 part + Lemongrass (dried herb) 2 parts. Steep 1 teaspoon of this mixture for 5 to 7 minutes in a cup of hot water, strain and drink. You can add Honey for sweetness just before drinking. This can help soothe your respiratory tract, help clear mucus and offer relief in cases of cold, cough and flu. This tea can be had a few times a day.
— Mix Cinnamon powder ½ teaspoon + 1 teaspoon Honey. Have this 2 to 3 times a day for relief from a cold accompanied by congestion and cough.
—- Freshly ground Black Pepper 1 teaspoon + Honey or Ghee 1 teaspoon is very effective in relieving congestion and helping release accumulated phlegm and thus reducing persistent coughs. Have up to 3 times a day, consistently for 3 to 5 days for best results. This remedy works well on a full stomach and if you want you can sip a little hot water after consuming the Pepper paste.
— Another traditional tisane is a simple Ginger tea. This stimulates our digestive system but it should be avoided if you have acidity or ulcers. Take 1 teaspoon of freshly grated Ginger and steep it in a cup of boiling hot water for 5 to 7 minutes. Strain and drink. You can add Honey for sweetness right before drinking.
Rituals of the Self
Mārgashirsha māsa is the time to slow down, start withdrawing from too much outward engagement and turn our attention to our physical, emotional and spiritual selves. For some that may mean deepening and strengthening our practices and for others it might be the start. Meditation, journalling, long walks, time set aside to listen to music, lighting a diya… each and any activity that we choose to invest with time and conscious attention can become a healing ritual for us.
Think deeply about what interests you and attracts you – you are the best judge of what you need.
Movement: Mārgashirsha is the ideal time for physical exercise – whichever type you prefer. Unlike Summers when our bodies can be depleted too quickly, this season is one where we risk physical lethargy and stagnation if we don’t embrace physical movement.
Sacred Agni: The ritual of lighting a diya is a highly recommended practice. Whether it is a part of a larger spiritual practice or performed as a ritual on its own, it is a deeply grounding and calming practice. In traditional Hindu spiritual practices lighting a diya is an integral part of the ritual as a way of inviting the purifying and illuminating energy of Agni. A diya is also an integral aspect of a Yogic Kriya – Tratak. Loosely translated as Flame Gazing, Tratak is a meditation practice that involves gazing at a steady flame – ideally a diya (earthen lamp) filled with Ghee (clarified butter) and a handmade wick of cotton. Ensure that the lit diya is placed at eye level height and that there are no air drafts in the room. The steadier the flame, the better it is. It is ideal to learn the practice of Tratak meditation from a Yoga teacher. Among the benefits that nearly all forms of meditation bestow on the practitioner, Tratak is also thought to be very beneficial for the eyes and eyesight.
Mantra Meditation: One of the oldest and most traditional of Vedic practices is the chanting of Sanskrit mantras. It is also an ideal meditation practice for beginners. With its emphasis on the repetitive chanting of a given mantra, it gently lays the foundation for a dedicated meditation practice. When we sit and chant our mantra daily, over a course of time we gently teach our body and mind to learn to ignore the distractions and reach towards a place of stillness. A mantra practice can be as simple or ritualistic and elaborate as you wish. There is a vast repository of Sanskrit mantras to choose from – each mantra is aligned with a deity or a certain kind of energy, see which one resonates with you and start with that. As your practice deepens, you will be the best judge of whether you need another mantra or to continue with the one you started with.
Mārgashrisha māsa is a time of transition to a quieter world, to a time of stillness and reflection. And that is a cue for us to turn our gaze towards our own selves.
May this Mārgashirsha māsa be a time of self-reflection and of practices that nourish the self.