- What it’s?
- Brahma Muhurta Time
- Science of it
- Benefits of waking up
- Best time to do yoga
- What to do in this time?
We as living beings are intimately related to the happenings of the universe. Even more than us, the species that are more closely associated with it are birds, especially roosters.
Have you ever wondered what signals roosters to get up early in the arrival of dawn?
Well, it is engineered in the circadian (biological) clock of the roosters. They complete the sleep-wake cycle before dawn and announce to the world that it is time to wake up. This time between midnight and sunrise is known as Brahma Muhurta, the time of creation.
What is Brahma Muhurta?
Brahma, in Hinduism, is the ‘creator’ of the universe. Brahma is derived from the Sanskrit root Bruh/Brih, meaning expansion, creation, or growth. Muhurta refers to time or period. Hence, the period that signifies creativity or the hour of the creator is called Brahma Muhurta.
Brahma Muhurta is considered to be the time before sunrise. More specifically, it is about one and a half hours prior to sunrise. Generally, it is the time between 3.30 AM to 6 or 6.30 AM, the time of sunrise. This time is also called ‘Amrit Vela’, meaning the Ambrosial Period.
However, this period can vary depending upon the part of the globe a person lives. But the common understanding is that Brahma Muhurta starts 1 hour 36 minutes before the sunrise.
During the Brahma Muhurta, activities related to creativity or the expansion of our soul are encouraged. Hence, the practice of yoga, meditation, prayers, studies, etc is encouraged to be performed during this time.
The Ayurvedic View
Ayurveda also suggests that waking up in the Brahma Muhurta is beneficial for the person’s health. The Vata dosha, which controls the mind, is active during this time and you can perform gentle and mind-calming activities to refresh yourself fill yourself with energy.
A verse from Ashtanga Hridayam states;
“To protect his life, a healthy person should get up at the Brahma Muhurta”.
It is important to note that healthy persons are encouraged to wake up in Brahma Muhurta. This means that people who have ill health or suffering from health problems are exempted from this, as it may not be suitable for their altered health condition to wake up early.
Waking up at the time of Brahma Muhurta is not suggested for pregnant women, children, people who have not digested last night’s food, or patients suffering from serious ailments. Elderly people who have already adapted to a different biological cycle due to age can also choose not to get up on Brahma Muhurta.
The Calculation of Brahma Muhurta Time
You can always calculate the exact time of Brahma Muhurta based on the time of sunrise at your place.
As stated earlier, the Brahma Muhurta time is 1 hour 36 minutes prior to sunrise, however, how has this time been calculated so precisely?
The easiest way to understand the calculation of this precise timing is in the following way:
Brahma Muhurta starts 2 muhurtas before sunrise. A muhurta is a Hindu unit of time measurement 1.
1 muhurta = 48 minutes
2 muhurta = 48+48 = 96 minutes
96 minutes when converted into hours and minutes come out to be 1 hour and 36 minutes.
So, if the sunrise at your place is at 6 am, the Brahma Muhurta will start at 4:25 am.
It is also said that Brahma Muhurta ends 48 minutes before sunrise, hence the ideal time for doing any productive and positive activity will be from 4:25 am – 5:15 am.
The science behind Brahma Muhurta
While the spiritual importance of waking up in Brahma Muhurta can be found in abundance, the significance of waking up at this time has been backed by science as well. This is hidden in the concept of the circadian rhythm.
The Circadian rhythm is essentially your body biological clock which helps in the functioning of all your organs as per the master clock in the brain. Much of this rhythm is established due to the sleep-wake cycle and environmental aspects like light acting as cues for the body to wake up.
If you have a definitive routine, the circadian rhythm is effectively aligned with your sleep-wake cycle and gives you the perfect restful and restorative sleep. However, even a slight disturbance can create major problems and diseases.
Waking up in Brahma Muhurta will let you stay attuned to your body’s clock and reap the benefits of the activities that the brain performs at this hour.
The brain is said to produce melatonin, which helps to induce sleep during the night. This is the result of a signal sent by your circadian clock to the master clock in the brain. During the Brahma Muhurta, the pineal gland secretes this hormone at the maximum and waking will help in stabilizing the sleep cycle. It is also during this time that the cortisol hormone, which is also like your body alarm, also starts to secrete.
Tapping into this transition will help you ease into the day smoothly.
SupraChiasmatic Nucleus (SCN), a special area in the brain, is stimulated with the onset of light. The SCN is responsible for sending signals to increase body temperature and secrete cortisol for waking up. It also helps in correcting the onset of melatonin secretion when the retina perceives darkness.
In addition to aligning your circadian rhythm, waking up at Brahma Muhurta will benefit your lungs in breathing in fresh and unpolluted oxygen. If you perform yoga, go on a walk or perform some light exercises, it will reduce your body-mass index and weight reduction. Good oxygen intake also removes the chance of diabetes significantly.
With a good sleep pattern, you can also stay away from serious mental health issues like depression, anxiety, insomnia, etc.
Benefits of waking up in Brahma Muhurta
The Brahma Muhurta is the time when the world is getting ready to wake up. It is the time where everything is still yet it is also moving. The serenity, calmness, and purity of this time is considered to fill you with vigor and positivity. It intensifies the energy of the universe and fills the space with inspiration, peace, and hope.
In this time, you can indulge in your favourite hobbies, practice yoga and meditation, perform prayers or mantra chanting, go for a walk, read, etc. This will stimulate your brain to feel energetic and creative, and also fill your heart with love, compassion, peace, and acknowledgement for the world around you.
Waking up in Brahma Muhurta offers the following benefits.
1. It contributes to maintaining overall health
Waking up in the Brahma Muhurta contributes to the person’s overall health. Ayurveda prescribes that an individual who wishes to be disease-free and protect his or her life should start the day with Brahma Muhurta.
Even the scriptures like Vedas and Bhagavad Gita explains the importance of getting up early to maintain a healthy state. It is the time when last night’s food is completely digested and all the systems are ready to begin their work for the day.
2. It helps enhance the mental operations
It is suggested to wake up in Brahma Muhurta because a person’s mental activity is heightened during this span. He or she feels the positive vibes of the atmosphere and mentally prepares for the upcoming tasks.
A review article of April 2019 shows 2 that the mental faculties during Brahma Muhurta are at their highest capacity. It happens because of the high amount of Vitamin E and D in the environment. This leads to the secretion of Serotonin – a neurotransmitter attributed to the feelings of well-being and happiness.
Serotonin helps the mind stay alert and active. That’s why it is said that what is studied in the early morning is remembered better. It also explains why meditation is recommended during Brahma Muhurta.
3. It decreases tendency of developing obesity and diabetes
As it is beneficial to prevent yourself from diseases, getting up in Brahma Muhurta also helps reduce the tendency to develop lifestyle disorders like diabetes, obesity, hypertension, etc.
A 2021 review published in the World Journal of Pharmaceutical Research says that chronic sleep loss causes an increase in cortisol, which contributes to a rise in blood pressure or secondary hypertension 3. But when a person wakes up in the early morning, their insulin levels are balanced, resulting in a reduced risk of high BP, diabetes, and obesity.
4. It speeds up the healing process
Waking up in Brahma Muhurta is beneficial because the Ozone level is highest during this span. The air is less polluted and a person can breathe in more Ozone, which is effective for treating many disorders.
A review article documents a 2011 research 4, which shows that Ozone is good to disinfect and cure various diseases. It helps in the healing of infected wounds, circulatory disorders, geriatric conditions, muscular...