Panchendriya means the five sense organs. Dinacharya means daily lifestyle routine. Daily lifestyle routines have direct influence on our panchendriya or the five sense organs. The healthy functioning of all the five senses and clear thought processes is a sign of overall health.
Healthy dinacharya leads to healthy panchendriya and overall physical and mental health. Dinacharya is a set of rules for daily routines starting from the time of wake up, doing everyday chores to getting to bed after completing the karma for a day.
Most ideal time to wake up
According to Ayurveda it is well before sun rise, probably around 5 in the morning. Atmosphere is most purified during this time. It is also the time that fills your mind with all positive thoughts and ideas. Early morning is time for sattwa or positive mental traits. It is also the time of the day when cognitive and learning powers are highly illuminated.
Very young children, elderly and sick persons are free to break this rule.
Method of waking up
Don’t jump off from your bed as soon as you wake up. Take a moment or two to mentally identify your position on the bed, the room and the thoughts running through your mind. Touch and feel your body for a while and take two or three deep breathes before you slowly get off.
Elimination – bowel movement and urination
Eliminate the wastes before the sun rise. However you don’t have to force elimination. Early elimination is necessary to expel the toxic wastes from the body before your body is slowly put to toxicity. See the process as basic cleansing of your internal body.
Cleansing the Senses – Sense Organs or Panchendriya
Wash your eyes and ears as first steps of purifying your sense organs. Apply a drop of sesame or almond oil inside the ear. Thoroughly clean the tongue. Also clean your nose by pulling some water into your nose. This cleans the nose and sinuses.
One indriya not included in panchendriya is our mind. Ayurvedic dinacharya recommends inhaling the smoke of medicinally valuable herbs like turmeric cleanses the thought process and empowers for better cognitive powers and clear thought process. Morning Ayurvedic dhoom pana (inhalation of smoke) also helps in cleaning lungs.
Massage your body with simple coconut oil, almond oil or olive oil. You can also choose Ayurveda abhayanga oils. This promotes blood circulation in all parts of the body, helps getting more nourishment to tissues and prevents aging. Aging is basically the wearing off of bodily tissues because of insufficient nutrition. Abhayanga solves this problem.
Take a bath 30-90 minutes after self massage.
Exercise needs to be complete before taking a bath. The reason is obviously to remove sweat from the body.
Exercise and meditation should be there in your daily routine. Yoga, surya namaskar, pranayama etc are the things to follow.
Daily food
Break fast
Natural organic food is best for your health and body. Take only a light break fast before 7’o clock.
Lunch
The ideal time to take lunch is before 12.30, five to six hours after your light breakfast. You will be very hungry while at the time of lunch. The hunger is a healthy indication of strong digestive fire and receptiveness of the body for food. Eating too much too soon is the single highest reason for several diseases. Eat a healthy, highly nutritious lunch. This is the main meal of the day. Take a slow walk for no more than two minutes after lunch and take some rest. Don’t avoid either the walk or rest. It is essential for proper digestion of the food.
Supper
Supper is best taken before 7 in the evening. Keep it lighter than lunch. ‘athazham kazhinjal arakkatham’ is a saying in Malayalam that suggests you should walk for a little while after supper.
Daily works and travel
Complete your works and travel before sundown. Spend the sundown and later hours with your family and kids, engaging in prayers or meditation.
Time after supper
This is time to relax. Don’t try to bring in tiring thoughts. Instead keep this time of the day in the most relaxed mood. Listen to music, read good books etc.
Bedtime
Go to bed at around 10. Bed time is also time for physical union. Make sure you get a minimum of six-seven hours of sleep. You are going to wake up before 5 in the morning, right?