Monthly Moon Cycle Routines Masa-Charya of Chaturthi & Ekadashi for Cleansing & Wellness Dr
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Monthly Moon Cycle Routines Masa-charya of Chaturthi & Ekadashi for Cleansing & Wellness Dr. Vivek Shanbhag, ND, MD(Ayurveda), BAMS, CYEd Presenter: Dr. Vivek Shanbhag is a Licensed Naturopathic Doctor, Ayurvedic Expert, Professor & Best-seller Author with over 30 years’ experience. He can be contacted at 408-876-0636 and [email protected]. He is the Founder-Director of www.YogaAyurveda.org – Natural Medicine Clinic & Academy in San Jose & Los Gatos, California. He is adjunct faculty at Bastyr University, Mount Madonna Ayurveda College, Vedika Global and Kerala Ayurveda. His 16 years clinical training includes ND at Bastyr University, MD-Ayu at Poona University, BAMS at Karnataka University & Yoga Educator at Karnataka University. He specializes in integrating Ayurveda, Naturopathic Medicine & Yoga to treat acute and chronic diseases. During 1989 thru 2006, for 17 years in Seattle, he was the Founder-Director of AYU Ayurvedic Academy & Clinic. In 2006, he sold this successful institution to Kerala Ayurveda. During 1991-96, he was the Chairman of Ayurveda Department at Bastyr University. During 1985-88 he was Head of Ayurvedic Research Institute, Pune. He is best-seller author of “Beginner’s Introduction to Ayurveda” by Keats Publishing. Recently, he won international Awards for Excellence in Ayurvedic Teaching and Practice. He is a sought-after keynote speaker at national and international conferences in the fields of Ayurveda, Naturopathic Medicine, Yoga, Wellness and Nutrition. Description: This presentation addresses today’s issue of illness-causing-toxins of Western diet and lifestyle and how to create wellness with lifestyle management approach of Masa-charya(monthly routine). It is based on Swastha-vritta of Ayurveda which recommends routines(charya) for all natural time cycles like daily(dina-charya), monthly(masa-charya), seasonal(ritu-charya) and life(ayu-charya). The masa-charya is based on the moon’s phases and is specifically related to 4th day (Chaturthi) and 11th day (Ekadashi) of both the waxing and waning phases of moon. This cleansing and wellness masa-charya includes specific do’s and don’ts about diet, herbs and lifestyle on 4th and 11th day of moon’s waxing and waning. These routines have been culturally incorporated into the Vedic lifestyle and are misunderstood as “religious rituals or fasts”. This presentation will explain the Ayurvedic and Yogic rationale of Masa-charya. The presentation directly relates to conference theme “Ayurveda Today!” as it addresses today’s issue of illness-causing-toxins in today’s diet and lifestyle and creates wellness with Ayurvedic lifestyle of easy cleansing and rejuvenation of Masa-Charya. It brings Ayurveda in modern lifestyle while keeping traditional integrity. The practical approach is convenient for busy people. As Masa-Charya is rarely discussed in Ayurvedic programs in the US, this presentation is geared to Ayurvedic students, graduates and practitioners: new and advanced. Learning Objectives: Upon successful completion of this presentation, the participants will be able to: 1. Address today’s issue of illness-causing-toxins in current common diet and lifestyle 2. Explain the Ayurvedic and Yogic rationale of Masa-charya(monthly routine) 3. Describe waxing and waning phases of moon with relation to the 4th day (Chaturthi) and the 11th day (Ekadashi) 4. Use cleansing and wellness monthly routines (Masa-charya) including specific do’s and don’ts about diet, herbs and lifestyle 5. Discard misunderstanding about Vedic lifestyle 1 Introduction and Outline: Gayathri Mantra: Ayurveda acknowledges that (microcosm) human wellness on all levels is influenced by the (macrocosm) 24 hour/daily sun cycle, 28 day/monthly moon cycle, 12 month yearly/4 season earth cycle, 120 years life cycle. Om bhur bhuva swa Om tat savitur varenyam, Bhargo devasya dhi mahi Dhiyo yo na pracho dayaat "I salute the earth, the space, the sun, the galaxies, the entire universe and the universal consciousness which operates the universe. I meditate on the energy of the universal consciousness which inspires my individual consciousness" Wellness Routines (swastha-vritta) for Nature's Cycles: 1. Daily Sun Cycle = 24 hours: daily routines(dina-charya) 2. Monthly Moon Cycle = 28 days: monthly routines(masa-charya) 3. Yearly Earth Cycle = 365 days/12 months/4 Seasons: seasonal routines(ritu-charya) 4. Life Cycle = 120 years: Life routines(ayu-charya) Monthly Moon Cycle Routines (Masa-charya of Chaturthi & Ekadashi) Diet Herbs Lifestyle Chaturthi Chaturthi or Chaviti is the fourth day (Tithi) of any lunar month in the Vedic calendar. Sankashti Chaturthi is the 4th day of the waning lunar phase after the full moon. If this Chaturthi falls on a Tuesday it is called Angarki Chaturthi. On this day, the scriptures recommend a fast which is broken at night after having darshan/auspicious sight of the moon preceded by prayers. The ‘Vratha’ (fast)during each month, has a different name. Each ‘Vratha’ (fast) has a purpose and is explained by a story known as the ‘Vratha Katha’. The Vedic calendar has one extra month every 4 years. Accordingly, the names of 13 months and the corresponding fast(Vratha) are: Chaitra Masa - Vikata Maha Ganapati - Vinayaka Peeta Vaishaka Masa - Chanakra Raja Ekadanta Ganapathi - Srichakra Peeta Jeshta Masa - Krishna Pingala Maha Ganapati - Sri Shakthi Ganapathi Peeta Ashada Masa - Gajaanana Ganapati - Vishnu Peeta Shravana Masa - Heramba Maha Ganapati - Ganapathi Peeta Bhadrapada Masa - Vignaraja Maha Ganapati - Vigneshwara Peeta Ashweeja Masa - Vakrathunda Maha Ganapati - Bhuvaneshwari Peeta Karthika Masa - Ganadipa Maha Ganapati - Shiva Peeta Margashira Masa - Akuratha Maha Ganapati - Durga Peeta Pushya Masa - Lambodara Maha Ganapati - Soura Peeta 2 Maga Masa - Dwijapriya Maha Ganapati - Samanya deva Peeta Palguna Masa - Balachandra Maha Ganapati - Agama Peeta Adika Masa - Vibhuvana Palaka Maha Ganapati - Doorva Bilva Patra Peeta Ekadashi Ekadashi (Sanskrit: एकादशी, ekādaśī, "Eleven"), also spelled as Ekadasi, is the eleventh lunar day (Tithi) of the shukla (bright) or krishna (dark) paksha (fortnight) of every lunar month in the Vedic calendar (Panchang). In the Vedic and Jain traditions it is considered a spiritually beneficial day. Scriptures recommend observing a (ideally waterless) fast from sunrise on the day of Ekadashi to sunrise on the day following Ekadashi. The scriptures teach that it is especially important to avoid all beans and all grains on this day and that one should eat only fruits, vegetables and milk products on this day. The Ekadashi day is recognized as the best of all days to fast because it is on this day of the moon phase in which the rays of the moon actually nourish the subtle nerves and feelings of the heart. Two Ekadashis occur in one month according to positions of the moon. The progression of the moon from full moon to new moon is divided into fifteen equal arcs. Each arc measures one lunar day, called "tithi": The time it takes the moon to traverse that distance is the length of that lunar day. Ekadashi refers to the 11 tithi( lunar day). The eleventh tithi therefore corresponds to a precise phase of the waxing and waning moon: In the bright half of the lunar month, the moon will appear roughly 3/4th bright on Ekadashi, and in the dark half of the lunar month, the moon will be about 3/4th dark on Ekadashi. 16 January(Friday)Shattila Ekadashi 30 January(Friday)Jaya Ekadashi 14 February(Saturday)Vijaya Ekadashi 15 February(Sunday)Vaishnava Vijaya Ekadashi 28 February(Saturday)Amalaki Ekadashi 16 March(Monday)Papmochani Ekadashi 30 March(Monday)Kamada Ekadashi 14 April(Tuesday)Varuthini Ekadashi 29 April(Wednesday)Mohini Ekadashi 13 May(Wednesday)Apara Ekadashi 14May(Thursday)Apara Ekadashi Vaishnava Apara Ekadashi 29May(Friday)Nirjala Ekadashi 12June(Friday)Yogini Ekadashi 27June(Saturday)Padmini Ekadashi 11July(Saturday)Parama Ekadashi 27July(Monday)Devshayani Ekadashi 09August(Sunday)Kamika Ekadashi 25August(Tuesday)Shravana Putrada Ekadashi 08September(Tuesday)Aja Ekadashi 23September(Wednesday)Parsva Ekadashi 24September(Thursday)Vaishnava Parsva Ekadashi 3 07October(Wednesday)Indira Ekadashi 08October(Thursday)Vaishnava Indira Ekadashi 23October(Friday)Papankusha Ekadashi 06November(Friday)Rama Ekadashi 21November(Saturday)Devutthana Ekadashi 06December(Sunday)Utpanna Ekadashi 21December(Monday)Mokshada Ekadashi General Dietary Guidelines for Chaturthi & Ekadashi Sattvic Diet Sattvic diet is meant to include food and eating habit that is "pure, essential, natural, vital, energy- containing, clean, conscious, true, honest, and wise". Sattvic diet makes us feel calm, alert and refreshed. Sattvic diet places emphasis on lacto-vegetarian ingredients that is fresh, seasonal, and naturally sourced (non-processed). All six flavors - sweet, salt, sour, pungent, bitter and astringent is preferably present in a Sattvic diet, at least on rotational basis, as each of these tastes are considered vital. Mitahara –moderation in quantity of food is considered a key practice in sattvic diet, which implies not over-eating. Sattvic diet should include primarily freshly prepared and warm, slightly unctuous (moist, oily) on palate, small portions, eaten at a moderate pace (not gulped, nor very slow) and started when hungry (not as habit). Further, a Sattvic diet pays attention to one's particular physical and biological needs. The preferred sequence in a Sattvic diet is: Protein-rich salty and fibrous foods at the start of a meal, followed by ripe vegetables