Health-Care in Autumn

Water that had got polluted by germs, mud and other filthy substances in the rainy season
is disinfected in Autumn by the hot sunrays, which are germicidal in effect. Further, it is made cool, clear and pure by the ambrosial rays of the Moon duly helped by the effect generated by the star ‘Agastya’ that rises in this season. This water is called ‘Hansodaka’. This ‘Hansodaka’, when used for taking a bath, is as beneficial as the nectar.

In the Autumn season, Pitta is aggravated and Vata is alleviated.

Appetite-moderate.
Physical strength-medium.

Wholesome foods: Sweet, bitter and astringent food items and drinks that are cool in effect and pitta pacifying should be consumed in moderate quantities when the appetite is sufficiently strong.

In this season, old rice, barley, mung beans, wheat, millet, bitter gourd, goose foot (chenopodium album), parval(tricosanthes dioica), torai (ribbed luffa), spinach, ripe white gourd melon, nenua (luffa pentandra) poi, tender kakadi (cucumber), kheera (another variety of cucumber), tinda, small seedless brinjal, dodi, carrots, turnips, lemons, coriander leaves, sugarcane, sweet pomegranates, sweet plums, Indian gooseberry, grapefruits, coconut, apple, guava, custard apple, anjir(figs), kishmish (raisins), munakka (currants), cumin seeds, coriander seeds, cardamom, cloves in moderate in quantities, cinnamon, milk, ghee and butter are generally considered wholesome and beneficial for all people.

Wholesome mode of living: It is highly beneficial to bask in the cool rays of the Moon in the first three hours of the night immediately after sunset. Do not, however, keep vigil in the night for it will aggravate Pitta. In this season, it is beneficial to wear a garland of seasonal flowers, smear sandalwood paste on the skin and have a bath after smearing multani mitti over the body.

Unwholesome foods and modes of living: In this season, one should desist from excessive fasting, excessive work, sunbath, consuming oils, curds; as well as from alkaline, sour, pungent, salty foods and foods hot in effect, sleeping during daytime and bearing the easterly winds. The easterly winds, rise from the Bay of Bengal and therefore are humid. This is why bearing such winds may predispose chronic rheumatoid arthritis, bronchial asthma etc.

Drink ghee in Autumn: Pitta is the base that supports fire in the body. In Autumn, Pitta is aggravated and its liquefied content is increased, which dampens the fire. Even if the water is warm it extinguishes fire. Similarly, the liquefied Pitta makes the digestive fire mild. Ghee is an excellent stimulant of digestive fire and a good pacifier of pitta. (Pritghanam ghritam). Therefore, to alleviate the aggravate Pitta and dyspepsia caused in this season, drinking ghee on an empty stomach in the morning is useful. Drink 15-20 grams of lukewarm cow’s ghee after sunrise followed by drinking warm water. (Ghees obtained from dairies and markets are no longer that reliable). Don’t take anything for 1-2 hours after that. After 1-2 hours, if you feel hungry you can take milk. Medicated ghees like Shatawari ghrit, Panchatikta Ghee, etc. are preferable to ordinary ghee.

• 3 to 5 grams of Trifala powder taken with lukewarm water at night evacuates the bowels properly in the morning and with that evacuates the excess Pitta as well.

• 2 to 3 grams of chebulic myrobalan powder mixed with an equal quantity of candied sugar taken in the morning too is good for purgation of Pitta.

• Bitter foods like bitter gourd and fenugreek and chutneys of Margosa and Giloy (Vitis Latifolia), etc. should be taken in the month of Bhadrapada (29th August to 26th September). Bottle gourd and yoghurts should not be consumed in the month of Bhadrapada.

Take 1 teaspoonful of Indian gooseberry powder (available at the Ashram stall, which is mixed with sugar candy powder) and mix it with a pinch of basil seeds. Dissolve this in water and drink. It will not only alleviate Pitta, but also give vigour, health and freshness. This therapy has proved to be very helpful in alleviating old-age, many kinds of abdominal diseases and to bring brightness to the face. (Don’t take it on Sunday.)

The filth and final phase of Gurupurnima festival was celebrated at the Guru’s Abode in Amdavad Ashram. Even after the programmes of darshana and satsanga being held towards the Gurupurnima festival at four other venues of the country prior to this programme, the enormously large number of devotees coming here defied all predictions. Naturally enough, all arrangements made for them fell far short of the actual requirement. The organizers were woefully tensed in the wake of such unmanageable circumstances. However, under the benign guidance of Pujya Bapuji, they regained control over the baffling situation and were soon able to manage things quite well.

Though scheduled to be held from 28th to 30th July, the Gurupurnima darshana and satsanga programme practically got underway well before the schedule on 26th July itself and instead of the scheduled three days, the programme continued for 5 days here. On this pious festival of Vyasapurnima, Pujya Bapuji was present in the pulpit, while the devotees, after waiting for long in ten long serpentine queues; would cross through His vicinity and feel blessed by having His divine darshana.

How satsanga helps people keep cheerful even amidst adverse circumstances was clearly visible among these devotees. While giving them the message of leading a healthy, happy and equanimous life Pujyashree said,

“Ekatah Sarvalingani manasastuushtirekethah
(The Agni Purana: 230.13)

‘Cheerfulness of the mind in itself is greater than all omens.’
Sayam pratah somnaso yo astuu
(The Atharva Veda)
‘May you all, day and night, i.e., always, keep cheerful.’

This delightful festival of Vyaspurnima imparts the message of – ‘All in One and One in all’. In case fearlessness has been missing in your life, do awaken it by all means. Do away with all negative thoughts of disappointment, dejection and escapism. Be optimistic. Have a wholesome diet. Learn the art of keeping happy and cheerful. Remember God with devotional love.

The message for this purnima is that you should undo your knots of ignorance; and recollect day and night your oneness with the cosmic power and the Guru Tattva lying latent within you.