The Daily life routine Dinacharya

 The Daily life routine Dinacharya

Dinacharya means Ayurvedic daily routine. Dina means daily, Charya means – regimen/routine. This chapter covers mental, speech and physical aspects of wellbeing, that you should follow every day.

 

PRATARUTHANA / GETTING UP IN THE MORNING

Healthy person should get up from bed at Brahmi Muhurtha. That is, before dawn, or around 45 minutes before Sun rise, around 5 – 6 am. Last three hours of the night – from 3 am to 6 am – is known as brahma muhurta.

 

DANTADHAVANA / CLEANING OF TEETH

Keeping in view, the condition of his body, the individual should pass urine and faeces, clean teeth with any of the twigs of following herbs –

Arka (Calotropis procera),

Vata (Ficus benghalensis),

Khadira (Acacia catechu),

Karanja (Pongamia pinnata),

Kakubha (Terminalia arjuna)

 

To use the twig as tooth brush, the thickness of the twig should be approximately equal to the tip of one’s little finger. It should be 12 Angula length. The tip of the twig should be chewed a little to make it as brush. The twig should be of astringent, pungent and bitter in taste.

 

Danta Dhawana Nishedha – Who should not brush teeth –

The following individuals should not do teeth brushing. – people suffering from indigestion, vomiting, dyspnoea, cough, fever, facial paralysis, excessive thirst, ulceration of mouth, heart disease, diseases of eyes, head and ears

 

Anjana – Collyrium

It is good to apply a special type of collyrium called Sauveera Anjana to the eyes. It should be applied daily. Rasanjana (aqueous extract of Berberis aristata), should be applied once in a week, to drain out Kapha (secretions) from the eyes.

 

Navana and Gandusha

- After collyrium application, healthy person should do Navana (Nasya – Nasal instillation of drops.). For this purpose, milk, herbal decoctions, herbal oils are usually used. After that, Gandusha – gargling with warm water, milk, or herbal decoction or herbal oil should be done. Then Dhuma – inhalation of smoke from herbs and spices should be done, and then betel leaves should be chewed.

 

Contra indication for Tambula – betel leaf chewing –

Abhyanga means massage. It should be done daily, morning. It delays ageing, relieves tiredness and excess of Vata (aches and pains). It improves vision, nourishes body tissues, prolongs age, induces good sleep and improves skin tone and complexion. Massage should be specially done on ears, head and legs. Massage should be avoided when there is increase of Kapha in the body, soon after Shodhana (Panchakarma procedure) and during indigestion.

 

 

 

Vyayama – exercise

Exercise brings about lightness, it improves work capacity, increases digestion power, burns fat. It brings body into good shape. People with diseases originating from Vata and Pitta, children, elders, people with indigestion problem should not do exercise. Exercise should be done till one’s half strength. Exercise should be done compulsorily by those having full strength and who take oily food stuff, From December to May. At the end of the exercise, one should undergo mild massage (pressing the body parts with mild to moderate pressure.)

 

Adverse effects of over-exercise:

Excessive thirst, emaciation, severe dyspnoea (difficulty in breathing), bleeding disorders, exhaustion, feeling of debility (even without any work), cough, fever and vomiting are caused by excess of exercise.

 

Those who indulge in too much of exercise daily, who keep themselves awake till late nights, regularly, who walk long distances regularly, who indulge in excessive sexual activities, too much of laughing, speaking, and such other strenuous activities, will perish, just as a lion perishes after vanquishing an elephant.

 

Udvartana –(powder – massage)

Udvartana is using powder for massage. It helps to calm down aggravated Kapha, helps to burn fat. Hence it is one of the therapies that many Ayurvedic centers offer for anti-obesity treatment. Udvartana also brings in stability to body organs, improves strength and skin complexion.

 

Snana – Bathing

Bathing improves digestion, acts as aphrodisiac, prolongs life, increases enthusiasm and strength. It helps to get rid of dirt, waste products, sweat, tiredness, excessive thirst, burning sensation and microbes.

 

Pouring warm water over the body bestows strength, but the same over the head, makes for loss of strength of the hair and eyes.

 

Bath is contra- indicated for those suffering from facial paralysis, diseases of the eyes, mouth and ears, diarrhoea, flatulence, rhinitis, indigestion and who have just taken food.

 

Sad Vritta – Good/healthy conduct:

Na vegan neerayet – one should not induce natural urges forcefully. Example: urinating, when there is no urge to pass urine. Na Vegito anya kaaryaha – one should immediately attend to natural urges, whenever they come, without being busy in other activities. One should undergo treatment to diseases as soon as possible.

 

Words of wisdom: Path of righteousness:

All the creatures are behind happiness. There is no happiness, without righteousness. Hence all should follow the path of righteousness.

 

Friends should be served with affection and good deeds, whereas the others (wicked) should be kept at a distance.

 

10 types of bad deeds

These ten sins pertaining to the body, speech and mind should be avoided.

Himsa (causing injury, torture etc.)

steya ( stealing, robbing),

anyathakama (unlawful sexual activity, desiring for others),

paisunya (abusive or harsh speech ),

parusha vachana (harsh speech)

Anruta vacana ( speaking untruth),

sambhinna alapa (speech causing separation, breaking of company),

vyapada (quarrel, intention of harming ),

abhidya (jealousy, not tolerating good of others) and

drgviparyaya ( finding fault, misunderstanding, faithlessness etc. with scriptures, elders etc) Of these ten, the first three are related to body, next four- related to speech and last three – related with mind.

 

Those who have no means of livelihood, who are suffering from diseases and who are afflicted with grief should be helped.

Even the insects and ants should be seen with respect, similar to a physician, king and guests.

Beggars should not be disappointed, abused or objected.

 

One should be very helpful even to his foes, even though they are not helpful. Sampat Vipatsu Eka manaaha: One should maintain a balanced mind both during calamity and prosperity. One should not be envious towards wealth and happiness of others.

 

Kale bruyat – speak only on the right occasion.

Hitam bruyat – speak good words, be pleasant.

Mitam bruyat – speak little, as per necessity.

Do not argue, do not say untrue things

 

Purva abhibhashi _ be the first to greet, to start conversation

sumukhaha – have a smiling face

susheelaha – have good character

karuna, mrudu: – be courteous, be soft in speech and activity.

NaEka sukhee – Do not be a person who likes to be alone always.

Na sarvata: vishrabdo – do not believe everything around you

Na shankhitaha – do not suspect everything around Do not instantly think someone as your foe or that he is a foe of someone else. Do not publicly talk about insults that you underwent, Do not publicly talk about disaffection towards your king (boss/ master / senior, in today’s context)

 

Keeping in mind the nature of he people, one should deal with them in such manner as bet pleasing to them, becoming well-versed in the art of adoring others.

 

Do not engage yourself in things that are devoid of three pursuits (dharma (righteousness), arha, (wealth) and kama (pleasure) ): should carry on the occupation without going contrary to them (dharma and karma).

In all dealings (activities) one should adopt the middle mean only, avoid extremes.

One should cut his hair, nails, and moustaches regularly. Keep feet, ears, nose, eyes, urethra and anus clean Take bath daily, put on scents and good dress which is not superfluous but is pleasant to look at

Wear precious stones, potent hymns and herbs (kept inside amulets) on the body. Walk holding an umbrella, putting on foot wear and looking straight to a distance of four arms length in front of you. In case of urgent work at nights, one should go equipped with a baton, head- dress and an assistant

 

One should not invade on the shade of a holy tree on which deities reside (or a Buddhist shrine), materials (or men) of worship, banner and unholy thing, heap of ash, husk and dirt, sand dunes, boulders, places of bali (offering sacrifices to Gods, demons etc.) and bathing.

 

One should not swim across rivers with arms, should not walk facing huge fire, should not travel in a risky boat, not climb a tree doubtful of strength; or ride on a vehicle, which is in bad condition.

 

One should not sneeze, laugh or yawn without covering his mouth.

 

One should not blow his nose (except for forcing out the dirty excretion); not scratch the ground without any reason, not do ugly movements of the parts of the body and sit on ones own heels for a long time.

 

One should stop the activities of the body, of speech and of the mind before getting exhausted; should not keep his knees above for long period (keeping erect folded at the knee while sleeping or standing on the hands keeping the legs up etc. )

 

One should not reside at night on trees, meeting place of three roads, or places where people assemble for recreation, vicinity of a holy tree (or a Buddhist shrine), meeting place of four roads and temple, (house of god). One should not reside even during daytime, in a place of slaughter, a forest, haunted house and burial ground.

 

No one should gaze at the sun for a long time, should not carry heavy weight on his head, not see continuously objects which are minute, shining, dirty and unpleasant.

 

One should not engage in selling, brewing, free distributing, or receiving of wine .

 

The person should avoid the direct breeze, sunlight, dust, snow(dew), hard breeze (whirlwind etc); should not sneeze belch, cough, sleep, dine or copulate in improper postures, should avoid the shade of a scaffold, places hated by the king (or government), company of wild animals, biting animals and those with horns; of mean, wicked (uncivilised and very intelligent persons); avoid quarrel with good men; avoid taking foods, sex, sleeping, study and recapitulation at the time of meeting of the night and sunrise,

 

Avoid the food given by enemies, given during sacrificial ceremony, (that offered by large group of donors of different castes), that given by prostitutes and merchants; one should not make sound with the body parts, mouth and nails, nor shake the hand and hairs; should not move in between two (receptacles of ) water, fire and the worshipful; should avoid the smoke of a cadaver; too much indulgence, in wine (drinking), believing and independence for (wicked) women.

 

For an intelligent person the world is a teacher, hence one should imitate the world after carefully considering their meaning and effects of such actions.

 

Compassion with all living beings, granting of gifts, controlling the activities of the body, speech and mind; feeling of selfishness in the interests of others (looking after the interest of others as his own) these are sufficient rules of good conduct.

 

He, who constantly thinks of how his day and night are passing and adopts the right way, will never become a victim of sorrow.

 

Thus was enumerated, in brief the rules of good conduct; he who adopts it will (surely) attain long life, health, wealth, reputation and also the eternal world. Thus ends the chapter called Dinacarya, the second in sutrasthana of Astanga hrudaya composed by Srimad Vaghata, son of Sri Vaidyapati Simhagupta.