Tamil calendar

The Tamil calendar is a sidereal Hindu calendar used by the Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent.[1][2] It is also used in Puducherry, and by the Tamil population in Malaysia, Singapore, Mauritius and Sri Lanka. Tamil Nadu farmers greatly refer to this. It is used today for cultural, religious and agricultural events,[3] with the Gregorian calendar largely used for official purposes both within and outside India. The Tamil calendar is based on the classical Hindu solar calendar also used in Assam, West Bengal, Kerala, Manipur, Nepal, Odisha, Rajasthan and Punjab[4] This shows Hindus are well versed about the planetary movements for ages.

There are several festivals based on the Tamil calendar. The Tamil New Year follows the nirayanam vernal equinox[5] and generally falls on 14 April of the Gregorian year. 14 April marks the first day of the traditional Tamil calendar and is a public holiday in the state of Tamil Nadu, Sri Lanka and Mauritius. Tropical vernal equinox fall around 22 March, and by adding 23 degrees of trepidation (oscillation) to it, we get the Hindu sidereal or Nirayana Mesha Sankranti (Sun's transition into nirayana Aries). Hence, the Tamil calendar begins on the same date in April which is observed by most traditional calendars of the rest of India – Assam, Bengal, Kerala, Odisha, Manipur, Punjab etc.[6] This also coincides with the traditional new year in Burma, Cambodia, Laos, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal and Thailand.

The calendar follows a 60-year cycle which is also very ancient and is observed by most traditional calendars of India and China. According to popular belief it is related to 5 revolutions of Jupiter around the Sun, and also to 60-year orbit of Nakshatras (stars) as mentioned in Surya Siddhanta.

In the Gregorian Year 2020 the Tamil year starts on 14 April 2020, Kaliyuga 5122. Vikrama and Shalivahana Saka eras are also used.

There are several references in early Tamil literature to the new year. Nakkirar, Sangam period author of the Neṭunalvāṭai, wrote in the third century CE that the Sun travels each year from Mesha/Chitterai in mid-April through 11 successive signs of the zodiac.[7] Kūdalūr Kizhaar in the third century CE refers to Mesha Raasi/Chitterai i.e. mid-April as the commencement of the year in the Puṟanāṉūṟu.[8][9] The Tolkaapiyam is the oldest surviving Tamil grammar text that divides the year into six seasons where Chitterai i.e. mid-April marks the start of the Ilavenil season or Summer.[10] The 5th century Silappadikaaram mentions the 12 Raasis or zodiac signs that correspond to the Tamil months starting with Mesha/Chitterai in mid-April.[11] The Manimekalai alludes to this very same Hindu solar calendar as we know it today[12] Adiyarkunalaar, an early medieval commentator or Urai-asiriyar mentions the twelve months of the Tamil calendar with particular reference to Chitterai i.e. mid-April. There were subsequent inscriptional references in Pagan, Burma dated to the 11th century CE and in Sukhothai, Thailand dated to the 14th century CE to South Indian, often Vaishnavite, courtiers who were tasked with defining the traditional calendar that began in mid-April.[13]

Week

The days of week (Kizhamai) in the Tamil Calendar relate to the celestial bodies in the solar system: Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, and Saturn, in that order. The week starts with Sunday.

in Tamil Transliteration In Sanskrit Lord or Planet Gregorian Calendar equivalent
ஞாயிற்றுக்கிழமை Nyayitru-kizhamai Bhanu-vaasaraha Sun Sunday
திங்கட்கிழமை thingat-kizhamai Indhu-vaasaraha Moon Monday
செவ்வாய்க்கிழமை Chevvai-kizhamai Bowma-vaasaraha Mars Tuesday
புதன்கிழமை bhudhan-kizhamai Soumya-vaasaraha Mercury Wednesday
வியாழக்கிழமை vyazha-kizhamai Guru Vaasaraha Jupiter Thursday
வெள்ளிக்கிழமை VeLLi-kizhamai Bhrugu-vaasaraha Venus Friday
சனிக்கிழமை sani-kizhamai Sthira-vaasaraha Saturn Saturday

Months

The number of days in a month varies between 29 and 32. These are the months of the Tamil Calendar.

In Tamil Transliteration Sanskrit Name * Gregorian Calendar equivalent
சித்திரை Cittirai Chaitra mid-April to mid-May
வைகாசி Vaikāsi Vaisākha mid-May to mid-June
ஆனி Āni Jyaishtha mid-June to mid-July
ஆடி Ādi Āshāḍha mid-July to mid-August
ஆவணி Āvaṇi Shrāvaṇa mid-August to mid-September
புரட்டாசி Puraṭṭāsi Bhādrapada/Prauṣṭhapada mid-September to mid-October
ஐப்பசி Aippasi Ashwina/Ashvayuja mid-October to mid-November
கார்த்திகை Kārttikai Kārttika mid-November to mid-December
மார்கழி Mārkazhi Mārgaṣīrṣa mid-December to mid-January
தை Tai Pausha/Taiṣya mid-January to mid-February
மாசி Māsi Māgha mid-February to mid-March
பங்குனி Paṅkuni Phalguna mid-March to mid-April

Note: The Sanskrit month starts a few weeks ahead of the Tamil month since the Tamil calendar is a solar calendar while the Sanskrit calendar is a lunisolar calendar[14]

Seasons

The Tamil year, in keeping with the old Indic calendar, is divided into six seasons, each of which lasts two months:

Season in Tamil Transliteration English Translation Season in Sanskrit Season in English Tamil Months Gregorian Months
இளவேனில்ila-venilLight warmthVasantaSpringchithirai, vaigāsiMid Apr – Mid Jun
முதுவேனில்mutu-venilHarsh warmthGrishmaSummerāni, ādiMid Jun – Mid Aug
கார்kaarDark clouds, RainVarshaMonsoonāvani, puratāciMid Aug – Mid Oct
குளிர்kulirChill / ColdSharadaAutumnaippasi, kārthigaiMid Oct – Mid Dec
முன்பனிmun-paniEarly mist / dewHemantaWintermārkazhi, taiMid Dec – Mid Feb
பின்பனிpin-paniLate mist / dewSishiraPrevernalmāsi, panguniMid Feb – Mid Apr

Sixty-year cycle
Further information: Samvatsara

The 60-year cycle is common to both North and South Indian traditional calendars, with the same name and sequence of years. Its earliest reference is to be found in Surya Siddhanta, which Varahamihirar (550 CE) believed to be the most accurate of the then current theories of astronomy. However, in the Surya Siddhantic list, the first year was Vijaya and not Prabhava as currently used. There are some parallels in this sexagenary cycle with the Chinese calendar.[15][16][17] The Surya Siddhanta and other Indian classical texts on astronomy had some influence on the Chinese calendar[18] although it merits attention that the sexagenary cycle in China is itself very old.

After the completion of sixty years, the calendar starts a new with the first year. This corresponds to the Hindu "century." The Vakya or Tirukannitha Panchangam (the traditional Tamil almanac) outlines this sequence. It is related to the position of the planets in the sky with respect to earth. It means that the two major planets Sani/Saturn (which takes 30 years to complete one cycle round the sun) and the Viyazhan/Jupiter (which takes 12 years to complete one cycle round the Sun) comes to the same position after 60 years.

The following list presents the current 60-year cycle of the Tamil calendar:[19]

No. Name Name (English) Gregorian Year No. Name Name (English) Gregorian Year
01. பிரபவ Prabhava 1987–1988 31. ஹேவிளம்பி Hevilambi 2017–2018
02. விபவ Vibhava 1988–1989 32. விளம்பி Vilambi 2018–2019
03. சுக்ல Sukla 1989–1990 33. விகாரி Vikari 2019–2020
04. பிரமோதூத Pramodoota 1990–1991 34. சார்வரி Sarvari 2020–2021
05. பிரசோற்பத்தி Prachorpaththi 1991–1992 35. பிலவ Plava 2021–2022
06. ஆங்கீரச Aangirasa 1992–1993 36. சுபகிருது Subakrith 2022–2023
07. ஸ்ரீமுக Srimukha 1993–1994 37. சோபகிருது Sobakrith 2023–2024
08. பவ Bhava 1994–1995 38. குரோதி Krodhi 2024–2025
09. யுவ Yuva 1995–1996 39. விசுவாசுவ Visuvaasuva 2025–2026
10. தாது Dhaatu 1996–1997 40. பரபாவ Parabhaava 2026–2027
11. ஈஸ்வர Eesvara 1997–1998 41. பிலவங்க Plavanga 2027–2028
12. வெகுதானிய Vehudhanya 1998–1999 42. கீலக Keelaka 2028–2029
13. பிரமாதி Pramathi 1999–2000 43. சௌமிய Saumya 2029–2030
14. விக்கிரம Vikrama 2000–2001 44. சாதாரண Sadharana 2030–2031
15. விஷு Vishu 2001–2002 45. விரோதகிருது Virodhikrithu 2031–2032
16. சித்திரபானு Chitrabaanu 2002–2003 46. பரிதாபி Paridhaabi 2032–2033
17. சுபானு Subhaanu 2003–2004 47. பிரமாதீச Pramaadhisa 2033–2034
18. தாரண Dhaarana 2004–2005 48. ஆனந்த Aanandha 2034–2035
19. பார்த்திப Paarthiba 2005–2006 49. ராட்சச Rakshasa 2035–2036
20. விய Viya 2006–2007 50. நள Nala 2036–2037
21. சர்வசித்து Sarvajith 2007–2008 51. பிங்கள Pingala 2037–2038
22. சர்வதாரி Sarvadhari 2008–2009 52. காளயுக்தி Kalayukthi 2038–2039
23. விரோதி Virodhi 2009–2010 53. சித்தார்த்தி Siddharthi 2039–2040
24. விக்ருதி Vikruthi 2010–2011 54. ரௌத்திரி Raudhri 2040–2041
25. கர Kara 2011–2012 55. துன்மதி Dunmathi 2041–2042
26. நந்தன Nandhana 2012–2013 56. துந்துபி Dhundubhi 2042–2043
27. விஜய Vijaya 2013–2014 57. ருத்ரோத்காரி Rudhrodhgaari 2043–2044
28. ஜய Jaya 2014–2015 58. ரக்தாட்சி Raktakshi 2044–2045
29. மன்மத Manmatha 2015–2016 59. குரோதன Krodhana 2045–2046
30. துன்முகி Dhunmuki 2016–2017 60. அட்சய Akshaya 2046–2047

Celebrations

The months of the Tamil Calendar have great significance and are deeply rooted in the faith of the Tamil Hindus. Some months are considered very auspicious while a few are considered inauspicious as well. Tamil months start and end based on the Sun's shift from one Rasi to the other but the names of the months are based on the star on the start of Pournami in that month. The name of the month is some times the name of the star itself. (e.g. Chithrai is always the star on the Pournami of the Chithirai month).

Some of the celebrations for each month are listed below. Dates in parentheses are not exact and usually vary by a day or two. Underneath (or beside) the months of the Hindu calendar are their Gregorian counterparts.[20][21]

Month Approx Dates Notes
சித்திரை – Chithirai 14 April – 13 May Star on the Pournami: Chithirai. Chitra Pournami & Varusha pirappu are the most important festivals in this month. Famous Chithirai Thiruvizha is celebrated in Madurai Meenakshi Amman temple. 14 April is the Tamil New Year.
வைகாசி – Vaikaasi 14 May – 14 June Star on the Pournami: Visaagam. Vaikaasi Visaakam is the most important day in this month.This month is most favorable month of Lord Subramainya (Murga Kadavul). Thirumangalam[Madurai] Shri Pathrakali Mariamman Temple 13day Vaigasi Festival starts at Sunday followed by vaigasi ammavasai[new moon day].
ஆனி – Aani 15 June – 15 July Star on the Pournami: Anusham. Aani Thirumanjanam or Aani Uttaram for Lord Nataraja is the most famous day in this month.
ஆடி – Aadi 16 July – 16 August Star on the Pournami: Pooraadam (or) Uthiraadam. A most important month for women. The most auspicious days are Fridays and Tuesdays in this month, these are called Aadi Velli and Aadi Chevvai and the Aadi Amavasya. Aadi Pooram is also a special day.18th day of adi is the most important day for the farmers (delta region) they prepare paddy seedlings.during this month "kanchi varthal" is famous in amman temples
ஆவணி – Aavani 17 August – 16 September Star on the Pournami: Thiruvonam. An important month with many rituals. Brahmins change their sacred thread on Aavani Avittam. Each Sunday of the month is dedicated to prayers – Aavani Gnayiru.vinayaka chaturthi ,the festival of lord ganesha is held in this month
புரட்டாசி – Purattaasi 17 September – 16 October Star on the Pournami: Poorattathi (or) Uthirattathi. An important month for Vaishnavas. Purattaasi Sani(Saturday) is an auspicious day for Lord Vishnu. Navarathri & Vijayadhashami or Ayuda Pooja is celebrated to invoke Goddess Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswathi.
ஐப்பசி – Aippasi 17 October – 15 November Star on the Pournami: Ashwini. The monsoons typically start over Tamil Nadu in this month. Hence the saying, "Aippasi Mazhai, adai mazhai" – meaning "Aippasi rains are persistent rains".

Also Annaabishekam for Lord Shiva is very famous in this month. The most famous Hindu festival "Deepavali" is celebrated in this month. The Fridays of this month – Aipassi velli – are dedicated to religious observance.

கார்த்திகை – Karthikai 16 November – 15 December Star on the Pournami: Karthikai. Another auspicious celebration for Shiva devotees is Thirukaarthigai. The Krithikaa Pournami is the special day of the full moon in the month of Kaarthikai, and the star is Krithikaa.

Each Monday of this month is dedicated to the worship of Lord Shiva. Every Monday is called "Somavaaram" when 108 or 1008 sangabhishekam are offered to Lord Shiva and Lord Muruga.

மார்கழி – Maargazhi 16 December – 13 January Star on the Pournami: Mrigasheersham. This is another special month in the Tamil Calendar. Temples open earlier in the mornings and Devotees throng the temples early for puja and prasadam – the offering made to the deity which is later distributed to the devotees. Arudra Darisanam (Thiruvaadirai star in Tamil) is the most auspicious day in this month. The offering made to Lord Siva is the Thiruvaadirai Kali – a sweet boiled pudding. Mukkodi Ekathesi is called "Paramapadha vaasal Thirappu" for Lord Vishnu. The Tiruvembaavai and Thirupaavai fast takes place in this month.
தை – Thai 14 January – 12 February Star on the Pournami: Poosam. Pongal, which is the Tamil harvest festival, is celebrated on the first day of this month. Thaipusam is also a special day for Murugan devotees, who carry Kavadi to one of the Aarupadaiveedu (Literally meaning "six abodes").
மாசி – Maasi 13 February – 13 March Star on the Pournami: Magam. Maasi Magam is the special day of which comes in this Month. Shivaratri is an important festival widely celebrated by Hindus in this month.
பங்குனி – Panguni 14 March – 13 April Star on the Pournami: Uththiram. Panguni Uthiram, the last month of the year, is a famous festival and special to Murugan and Siva devotees.


Significance
  • The Hindus developed a system of calendrics that encapsulates vast periods of time.[22] For computing the age of the earth and various geological and other epochs, as well as the age of mankind, they still employ a Tamil calendar derived from ancient astronomical data, known as the Tirukkanida Panchanga[23]
  • The 10th Tamil month, called Thai, falls in mid-January each year. It is celebrated with much enthusiasm within the Tamil Community all over the world. Thai is marked by gifts of new clothing for family members and prayers to God for prosperity in the coming year. Thai and the fifth month Aavani are considered very auspicious for marriage and most marriages occur during these months.
  • The fourth month Aadi is a busy month for most people including priests as there will be major temple festivities throughout the month, so most weddings do not often fall in this month. Aadi is the month of preparation for the next crop cycle by farmers. Therefore, farming communities avoid major events like weddings in this month. Those members of the Tamil community who don't actively contribute/participate in farming take advantage by having important functions like wedding in this month. For example, the business community prefers this month for weddings. Aadi is usually the worst month for business, although when businesses recently initiated Aadi discounts, this situation has changed significantly. Each Friday of this month is set aside for prayer and worship.
  • Aadi is portrayed as an inauspicious month for union of newlyweds because conceiving in this month might often result in child delivery around April–May, the hottest months in Tamil Nadu (Agni natchathiram – ['pinezhu'] the last 7 days of Chithirai and ['munezhu'] the first 7 days of Vaigasi). 'Aadi' is also the windiest month in Tamil Nadu, and hence the phrase 'Aadi kaatru ammiyai nagatrum' (literally, 'the strong winds in the month of Aadi can even move a stone grinder')
  • Purattaasi is when most of the non-vegetarian Tamil people fast from meat for a month. Each Saturday of this month is set apart to venerate the planet Saturn.
  • Deepavali, is celebrated on the new moon day, in the seventh month Aipasi. The month of Aipasi is usually characterised by the North-East Monsoon in Tamil Nadu, which has given birth to a phrase, Aipasi adai mazhai meaning the "Non-stop downpour".
  • Maargazhi falls in winter in Tamil Nadu, and is an auspicious month. The month is considered sacred. During the holy month of Maargazhi, houses are decorated with colorful and elaborate kolams. These are drawn on the threshold to welcome guests and divine beings to bless their houses with prosperity and happiness. The Shaivite fast of Thiru-vembaavai and the Vaishnava fast of Thiru-paavai are also observed in this month.
  • The total number of days in a Tamil Calendar is an average 365 days. The Vakiya Panchangam is employed for both sacred and civil calculations. The Trikanitha Panchangam is employed for astrological calculations.

Festivals

The Tamil Calendar is important in the life of Tamil-speaking people and most Festivals of Tamil Nadu are based on it. Some Festivals include

  • Tamil New Year (also called Puthandu) in mid-April,
  • Thai Pongal,
  • Deepavali,
  • Panguni Uthiram,
  • Thirukaarthigai,
  • Aadiperukku,
  • Navaratri

One day was even dedicated to a celebration of the Tamil alphabet and was called "ezhuthu naal'.

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See also

References
  1. S.K. Chatterjee, Indian Calendric System, Publications Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India, 1998
  2. Sewell, Robert and Dikshit, Sankara B.: The Indian Calendar – with tables for the conversion of Hindu and Muhammadan into a.d. dates, and vice versa. Motilal Banarsidass Publ., Delhi, India (1995). Originally published in 1896
  3. Indian Epigraphy, D.C. Sircar, TamilNet, Tamil New Year, 13 April 2008
  4. S.K. Chatterjee, Indian Calendric System, Publications Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India, 1998.
  5. Dershowitz, Nachum and Reingold, Edward M.: Calendrical Calculations. Third edition, Cambridge University Press (2008).
  6. Underhill, Muriel M.: The Hindu Religious Year. Association Press, Kolkata, India (1921).
  7. JV Chelliah: Pattupattu: Ten Tamil Idylls. Tamil Verses with English Translation. Thanjavur: Tamil University, 1985 -Lines 160 to 162 of the Neṭunalvāṭai.
  8. The Four Hundred Songs of War and Wisdom: An Anthology of Poems from Classical Tamil, The Purananuru. Columbia University Press. 13 August 2013 – Poem 229 of Puṟanāṉūṟu
  9. Professor Vaiyapuri Pillai, 'History of Tamil Language and Literature' Chennai, 1956, pp. 35, 151
  10. Tolkappiyam Porulatikaram, Peraciriyam. Ed. by R.P.C Pavanantam Pillai. 2 Vols, Longmans,Creen and Co, Madras/Bombay/Calcutta. 1917
  11. R. Parthasarathy, The Tale of an Anklet: An Epic of South India: The Cilappatikāram of Iḷaṅko Aṭikaḷ. New York: Columbia University Press – Canto 26. Canto 5 also describes the foremost festival in the Chola country – the Indra Vizha celebrated in Chitterai
  12. Lakshmi Holmstrom, Silappadikaram, Manimekalai, Orient Longman Ltd, Madras 1996.
  13. G.H. Luce, Old Burma – Early Pagan, Locust Valley, New York, p. 68, and A.B. Griswold, 'Towards a History of Sukhodaya Art, Bangkok 1967, pages 12–32
  14. Kielhorn, Franz: Festal Days of the Hindu Lunar Calendar. The Indian Anti- quary XXVI, 177–187 (1897).
  15. Samuel Wells Williams, The Middle Kingdom, V 2, Columbia University Press, New York, 2005 pp. 69–70
  16. Paul Kekai Manansala, Quests of the Dragon and Bird Clan, 2006, p. 236
  17. Terrien de Lacouperie, Western Origin of the Early Chinese Civilization: From 2,300 BC to 20 AD, Asher and Co, London 1894 p. 78
  18. George Gheverghese Joseph, Crest of the Peacock: Non-European Roots of Mathematics, Princeton University Press, 2011, p. 304-305
  19. Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami, Vedic calendar: Kadavul Hindu Panchangam, Himalayan Academy, Kapaa, Hawaii, 1997; pp. 5–6,Glossary p 10
  20. Kielhorn, Franz: Festal Days of the Hindu Lunar Calendar. The Indian Anti-quary XXVI, 177–187 (1897).
  21. Underhill, Muriel M.: The Hindu Religious Year. Association Press, Kolkata, India (1921).
  22. Wijk, Walther E. van: On Hindu Chronology, parts I–V. Acta Orientalia (1922–1927).
  23. H.P. Blavatsky, 'The Secret Doctrine: The Synthesis of Science, Religion and Philosophy' Book 2: pp. 49–51, Theosophical University Press, 1888
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