Concept of Vihara (Lifestyle)

The Dinacharya, Ritucharya and Sadvritta are parts of correct/ideal Lifestyle measures mentioned in Ayurvedic classics for maintenance of health and also to achieve a long, healthy active life, providing relief from pain and disease. Detailed description of personal hygiene encompass diet and regimen during daily routine (Dinacharya), seasonal routine (Ritucharya) and behavioral, rules of good conduct (Sadvritta) and description of suppressible (Dhamiya vega) & non suppressible(Adhamiya vega) urges is available in Ayurveda.

Abstain from those factors which cause mental agony:- It is not what you eat that kills you; it is what eats you (negative thoughts) that kills you. (Hippsley-Cox J, Fielding K, and Pringle M. Depression as a risk factor for IHD in men). There are a host of scientific studies, both prospective and retrospective, that have shown a very close cause-effect relationship between negative thoughts like anger, pride, hostility, and depression and vascular diseases and, even, cancer!.

Dinacharya (Daily regimen)

• It is advisable to wake up during Brahma Muhurta (preferably between 4.00 a.m. to 5.30 a.m.).
• One should attend the nature’s calls.
• The soft brushes made out of twigs of Khadira, Karanja, Apamarga etc. should be used for brushing the teeth.
• Tongue should be cleaned by a long flexible strip of metal or plant twig. It not only cleanses the tongue but also stimulates digestion. Mouth should also be cleaned properly.
• Chewing of betel leaves with small pieces of Areca nut (Khadira) and fragrant substances like cardamom, cloves, refreshes the mouth and enhance digestion.
• It is necessary to massage (Abhyanga) whole body with oil every day. Oil massage ensures softness and unctuousness of skin, free movement of joints and muscles, peripheral circulation and elimination of metabolic wastes.
• Regular exercise (Vyayama) is essential for perfect health. It builds up stamina and resistance against disease, clears the channels of body (Srotas) and increases the blood circulation. It enhances efficiency of body organs, promotes appetite and digestion and prevents obesity.
• Whole body massage with dry powders of yava,kola & kulath (Udvartana) every day.
• Bathing (Snana) improves enthusiasm, strength, sexual vigour, appetite, span of life and removes sweat and other impurities from the body. After bath one should wear clean clothes and smear the body with perfume.
• One should have regular shaving, haircut (Kshaura Karma), cutting of nails (Nakh apkartana) etc.

Rithucharya (Seasonal regimen)

In Ayurvedic classics, there has been a thorough consideration for seasons, besides the dietetic regimens for days and nights. Whole year is divided into six seasons and detailed dietetic regimen for these seasons is prescribed. In spring season, bitter, hot and astringent diet is advised while salty, sour and sweet food should be avoided. Wheat, barley, honey syrup, fruits like mango, jack fruit-etc. and meat of forest animals is advised. In summer season due to hot climate, aggravation of pitta occurs. Hence pitta pacifying cold, liquid, sweet and oily diet is advised. Excessive hot, spicy, sour salty diet should be avoided. Intake of rice, milk, ghee, sugar, grapes, coconut water, meat of forest animals are advised. In rainy season aggravation of vata occurs, hence vata shamaka sweet, sour and salty food and drinks are preferred. The food should be hot, dry, fatty and easily digestible.

Preserved rice, wheat, barley and mutton soups are advised. In pre winter and winter season Vatadosha aggravates due to cold, dry, chilly atmosphere in this season hence vataghna, pittavardhaka diet is recommended. Hot, sweet, sour and salty food, milk, sugarcane, rice, oils and fats are advised and in autumn season aggravation of Pitta dosha occurs. Therefore, it is ideal to take ghee processed with bitter drugs; purgation, bloodletting, coolant, and light diet are advised. Diets dominant in Bitter, sweet, pungent diets are advised ideal in this season.

Sadvritta (Rules of good conduct)

Ayurveda prescribes certain rules for maintaining healthy mind. These are principles of right conduct that are applicable to all people at all times and places. Practicing them gives balance and harmony to the mind. These are

• Whenever possible, devote your services to God, to the wise and to respectable or elderly individuals.
• Always speak the truth
• Do not lose your temper under any circumstances
• Do not get addicted to sensory pleasures.
• Do not harm anyone.
• As far as possible, do not expose yourself to hardships.
• Try to control your passions.
• Endeavor to speak pleasant and sweet words.
• Meditate every day for tranquility of mind.
• Observe cleanliness in all things.
• Be patient
• Observe self-control
• Try to distribute knowledge, good advice and help to others.
• Be straightforward and kind.
• Avoid irregularity in daily activities.
• Avoid over eating, overdrinking, too much sexual activity, too much or too little sleep.
• Behave according to the time and place where you are residing.
• Act always in a courteous and polite manner.
• Control your sense organs.
• Make a habit of doing all that is good and avoiding all that is bad.

Dharniya & Adharniyavega (Preventive Regimens)

Observations of certain prescriptions and prohibitions given by Ayurveda ensure physical, mental and spiritual well-being.

Non-Suppressible Urges

There are thirteen natural urges. Suppression of which leads to many diseases as given below:

• Suppression of urge for urination leads to difficulty in passing urine, urinary stone, atony of bladder and inflammation of urinary tract.
• Suppression of urge for passing stool leads to pain in abdomen, indigestion, gas in abdomen, headache.
• Suppression of flatus leads to pain in abdomen, indigestion, heart diseases, constipation or diarrhea.
• Suppression of ejaculation of semen may produce a stone (Spermato-lith), pain in testis and difficulty in intercourse.
• Suppression of vomiting produces different types of diseases like urticaria, giddiness, anaemia, hyperacidity, skin diseases and fever.
• Suppression of sneezing may produce rhinitis and chronic cold, headache, sinusitis and diseases of respiratory system.
• Suppression of eructation leads to hiccough, pain in chest, cough and loss of appetite.
• Suppression of yawning leads to diseases of the eyes, throat, ear and nose.
• Suppression of hunger and thirst may lead to nutritional disorders and debility.
• Suppression of tears leads to mental disorders, pain in chest, giddiness and digestive disorders.
• Suppression of respiration may cause suffocation, respiratory disorders, heart diseases and even death.
• Suppression of sleep causes the diseases like insomnia, mental disorders, digestive disorders and diseases of sense organs.

Suppressible Urges

One should suppress urges of greed, grief, fear, fury, pride, shamelessness, envy and excessive passion. Observe self-control and always speak truth. One should not harm others and should always act in a courteous and polite manner.

Dietetic and behavioural bad habits should be given up and good' things should be taken up gradually. An intelligent person who seeks happiness should make a great effort to make good company and avoid the bad one.

Source : Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences