The months of the Tamil calendar

The Tamil calendar (தமிழ் நாட்காட்டி) is a sidereal solar calendar used by the Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent.[1][2] It is also used in Puducherry, and by the Tamil population in Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Singapore, and Mauritius.

It is used in contemporary times 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]

Description

The calendar follows a 60-year cycle that is also very ancient and is observed by most traditional calendars of India and China. This is related to 5 12-year revolutions of Jupiter around the Sun and one that adds up to 60 years and the orbit of Nakshatras (stars) as described in the Surya Siddhanta.

In the Gregorian year 2024, the Tamil year starts on 14 April 2024, Kaliyuga 5126. The Vikrama and Shalivahana (Saka) eras are also used.

There are several references in early Tamil literature to the new year. Nakkeerar, Sangam period author of the Neṭunalvāṭai, wrote in the third century CE that the Sun travels each year from Mesha/Chittirai in mid-April through 11 successive signs of the zodiac.[5] Kūdalūr Kiḻar in the third century CE refers to Mesha Rāsi/Chittirai i.e. mid-April as the commencement of the year in the Puṟanāṉūṟu.[6][7] The Tolkappiyam is the oldest surviving Tamil grammar text that divides the year into six seasons where Chihthirrai i.e. mid-April marks the start of the Ilavenil season or Summer.[8] The 5th century Silappadhigaaram mentions the 12 rāsigal or zodiac signs that correspond to the Tamil months starting with Mesha/Chittirai in mid-April.[9] The Manimekalai alludes to this very same Hindu solar calendar as we know it today[10] Adiyarkunalaar, an early medieval commentator or Urai-asiriyar mentions the twelve months of the Tamil calendar with particular reference to Chittirai 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.[11]

The Tamil New Year follows the nirayanam vernal equinox[12] 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.[13] This also coincides with the traditional new year in Burma, Cambodia, Laos, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Thailand.

Week

The days of week (Kiḻamai) 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.

Tamil Transliteration Sanskrit Planet/Deity Gregorian Calendar equivalent
ஞாயிற்றுக்கிழமை Nyayitru-kiḻamai Ravi-vāsara Sun Sunday
திங்கட்கிழமை Tingat-kiḻamai Soma-vāsara Moon Monday
செவ்வாய்க்கிழமை Chevvai-kiḻamai Mangala-vāsara Mars Tuesday
அறிவன்கிழமை Aarivan-kiḻamai Budha-vāsara Mercury Wednesday
வியாழக்கிழமை Vyaḻa-kiḻamai Guru-vāsara Jupiter Thursday
வெள்ளிக்கிழமை Velli-kiḻamai Śukra-vāsara Venus Friday
காரிக்கிழமை Kari-kiḻamai Śani-vāsara Saturn Saturday

Months

The number of days in a month varies between 29 and 33. These are the months of the Tamil Calendar.

Tamil Transliteration Sanskrit Gregorian Calendar equivalent
சித்திரை Chitthirai Caitrā mid-April to mid-May
வைகாசி Vaikāsi Vaisākha mid-May to mid-June
ஆனி Āani Jyeṣṭha mid-June to mid-July
ஆடி Āadi Āshāḍha mid-July to mid-August
ஆவணி Āavaṇi Shrāvaṇa mid-August to mid-September
புரட்டாசி Puraṭṭāsi Bhādrapada/Prauṣṭhapada mid-September to mid-October
ஐப்பசி Aippasi Aśvīna mid-October to mid-November
கார்த்திகை Kārthigai Kārttika mid-November to mid-December
மார்கழி Mārgaḻi Mārgaṣīrṣa mid-December to mid-January
தை Thai Pauṣa/Taiṣya mid-January to mid-February
மாசி Maāsi Māgha mid-February to mid-March
பங்குனி Panguni Phālguṇa mid-March to mid-April

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 warmthVasantaSpringChittirai, VaikāsiMid Apr – Mid Jun
முதுவேனில்Mudhu-venilHarsh warmthGrishmaSummerĀni, ĀdiMid Jun – Mid Aug
கார்KārDark clouds/RainVarshaMonsoonĀvaṇi, PuraṭṭāsiMid Aug – Mid Oct
குளிர்KulirChill/ColdSharadaAutumnAippasi, KārtikaiMid Oct – Mid Dec
முன்பனிMun-paniEarly mist/DewHemantaWinterMārgaḻi, TaiMid Dec – Mid Feb
பின்பனிPin-paniLate mist/DewSishiraPrevernalMāsi, PanguniMid Feb – Mid Apr

Sixty-year cycle

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 Viyaḻan/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 Transliteration Gregorian Year No. Name Transliteration Gregorian Year
01. பிரபவ Prabhāva 1987–1988 31. ஹேவிளம்பி Hēvilaṃbi 2017–2018
02. விபவ Vibhāva 1988–1989 32. விளம்பி Vilaṃbi 2018–2019
03. சுக்ல Śuklā 1989–1990 33. விகாரி Vikāri 2019–2020
04. பிரமோதூத Pramadutā 1990–1991 34. சார்வரி Śarvarī 2020–2021
05. பிரசோற்பத்தி Prachopati 1991–1992 35. பிலவ Plava 2021–2022
06. ஆங்கீரச Āṅgirasa 1992–1993 36. சுபகிருது Śubhakṛt 2022–2023
07. ஸ்ரீமுக Śrīmukha 1993–1994 37. சோபக்ருத் Śobhakṛt 2023–2024
08. பவ Bhava 1994–1995 38. க்ரோதி Krodhī 2024–2025
09. யுவ Yuva 1995–1996 39. விசுவாசுவ Viśvāvasuva 2025–2026
10. தாது Dhātu 1996–1997 40. பரபாவ Parapāva 2026–2027
11. ஈஸ்வர Īśvara 1997–1998 41. ப்லவங்க Plavaṅga 2027–2028
12. வெகுதானிய Vehudānya 1998–1999 42. கீலக Kīlaka 2028–2029
13. பிரமாதி Pramāti 1999–2000 43. சௌம்ய Saumya 2029–2030
14. விக்ரம Vikrama 2000–2001 44. சாதாரண Sādhāraṇa 2030–2031
15. விஷு Viṣu 2001–2002 45. விரோதகிருது Virodhikṛti 2031–2032
16. சித்திரபானு Citrabhānu 2002–2003 46. பரிதாபி Paritapi 2032–2033
17. சுபானு Subhānu 2003–2004 47. பிரமாதீச Pramādīca 2033–2034
18. தாரண Dhārana 2004–2005 48. ஆனந்த Ānanda 2034–2035
19. பார்த்திப Partibhā 2005–2006 49. ராட்சச Rākṣasaḥ 2035–2036
20. விய Viya 2006–2007 50. நள Nala 2036–2037
21. சர்வஜித் Sarvajit 2007–2008 51. பிங்கள Piṅgāla 2037–2038
22. சர்வதாரி Sarvadhārī 2008–2009 52. காளயுக்தி Kālayukti 2038–2039
23. விரோதி Virodhī 2009–2010 53. சித்தார்த்தி Siddhidātrī 2039–2040
24. விக்ருதி Vikṛti 2010–2011 54. ரௌத்திரி Rautrī 2040–2041
25. கர Kara 2011–2012 55. துன்மதி Dhūnmatī 2041–2042
26. நந்தன Nandhana 2012–2013 56. துந்துபி Dundubhi 2042–2043
27. விஜய Vijaya 2013–2014 57. ருத்ரோத்காரி Rudhirōtgāri 2043–2044
28. ஜய Jaya 2014–2015 58. ரக்தாட்சி Rākṣasī 2044–2045
29. மன்மத Manmatha 2015–2016 59. க்ரோதன Krodhanā 2045–2046
30. துன்முகி Dhuṇmūkī 2016–2017 60. அட்சய Akṣayā 2046–2047

Celebrations

The months of the Tamil Calendar have great significance and are deeply rooted in the faith of 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 Rāsi to the other, but the names of the months are based on the star on the start of the pournami in that month. The name of the month is sometimes the name of the star itself. (e.g. Chittirai is always the star on the pournami of the Chittirai 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 – Chittirai 14 April – 13 May The nakshatram (star) that is regarded to be ascendant during the pournami (full moon day) of this month is Chittirai. Chittirai Pournami & Varusha-Pirappu are the most important festivals in this month. The famous Chittirai Tiruviḻa is celebrated in the Madurai Meenakshi Amman temple. The 14 of April is the Tamil New Year.
வைகாசி – Vaikāsi 14 May – 14 June The nakshatram (star) that is regarded to be ascendant during the pournami (full moon day) of this month is Visākam. Vaikāsi Visākam is the most important day of this month. This month is regarded to be sacred to Murugan.
ஆனி – Āni 15 June – 15 July The nakshatram (star) that is regarded to be ascendant during the pournami (full moon day) of this month is Anusham. Āni Thirumanjanam or Āni Uththiram for Nataraja is the most famous day in this month.
ஆடி – Ādi 16 July – 16 August The nakshatram (star) that is regarded to be ascendant during the pournami (full moon day) of this month is Pooraadam (or) Uthiradam. It is regarded to be an auspicious month for women. The most auspicious days are Fridays and Tuesdays in this month, these are called Ādi Velli and Ādi Chevvai and the Ādi Amavasai. Ādi Pooram is also a holy day. The 18th day of adi is the most important day for the farmers (delta region) they prepare paddy seedlings.
ஆவணி – Āvaṇi 17 August – 16 September The nakshatram (star) that is regarded to be ascendant during the pournami (full moon day) of this month is Thiruvonam. An important month with many rituals. Brahmins change their sacred thread on Āvaṇi Avittam. Each Sunday of the month is dedicated to prayers – Āvaṇi Gnayiru. Vinayakar Chaturti, the festival of Ganesha is held this month.
புரட்டாசி – Puratāsi 17 September – 16 October The nakshatram (star) that is regarded to be ascendant during the pournami (full moon day) of this month is Poorattathi (or) Uthirattathi. An important month for Vaishnavas. Puratāsi Sani (Saturday) is an auspicious day for Lord Vishnu. Navarathri & Vijayadhashami or Ayuda Puja is celebrated to invoke the goddesses Durga, Lakshmi, and Saraswati.
ஐப்பசி – Aippasi 17 October – 15 November The nakshatram (star) that is regarded to be ascendant during the pournami (full moon day) of this month is Ashvini. The monsoons typically start over Tamil Nadu this month.

Deepavali is celebrated during this month.

கார்த்திகை – Kārtikai 16 November – 15 December The nakshatram (star) that is regarded to be ascendant during the pournami (full moon day) of this month is Kārtikai. Another auspicious celebration for Shiva devotees is Tirukartikai. The Krittika Pournami is the holy day of the full moon in the month of Kārtikai, and the star is Krittika.

Each Monday of this month is dedicated to the worship of Shiva.

மார்கழி – Margaḻi 16 December – 13 January The nakshatram (star) that is regarded to be ascendant during the pournami (full moon day) of this month is Mrigashirsham. This is a sacred month in the Tamil calendar, especially for Vaishnavas and unmarried women.[22] Arudra Darisanam (Tiruvadirai star in Tamil) is the most auspicious day in this month. The offering made to Shiva is the Tiruvadirai Kali – a sweet boiled dessert. Mukkodi Ekadashi is called "Paramapada vasal tirappu" for Vaishnavas. The Tiruvenpavai and Tiruppavai fast takes place this month.
தை – Tai 14 January – 12 February The nakshatram (star) that is regarded to be ascendant during the pournami (full moon day) of this month is Pusam. Pongal, which is the Tamil harvest festival, is celebrated on the first day of this month. Thaipusam is also a sacred day for Murugan devotees, who carry a kavadi to one of the Arupadaiveedu (Literally meaning "six abodes").
மாசி – Māsi 13 February – 13 March The nakshatram (star) that is regarded to be ascendant during the pournami (full moon day) of this month is Magam. Māsi Magam is the holy day that falls during this month. Shivaratri is an important festival widely celebrated by Hindus this month.
பங்குனி – Panguni 14 March – 13 April The nakshatram (star) that is regarded to be ascendant during the pournami (full moon day) of this month is Uttiram. Panguni Uttiram, the last month of the year, is a famous festival and holy to Murugan and Shiva devotees.

Significance

  • The Hindus developed a system of calendrics that encapsulates vast periods of time.[23] 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[24]
  • The 10th Tamil month, called Tai, falls in mid-January each year. It is celebrated with much enthusiasm within the Tamil Community all over the world. Tai is marked by gifts of new clothing for family members and prayers to God for prosperity in the coming year. Tai and the fifth month Āvaṇi are considered very auspicious for marriage and most marriages occur during these months.
  • The fourth month Ādi 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. Ādi 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. Ādi is usually the worst month for business, although when businesses recently initiated Ādi discounts, this situation has changed significantly. Each Friday of this month is set aside for prayer and worship.
  • Ādi 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 – ['pineḻu'] the last 7 days of Chithirai and ['muneḻu'] the first 7 days of Vaigasi). 'Ādi' is also the windiest month in Tamil Nadu, and hence the phrase 'Ādi kaatru ammiyai nagatrum' (literally, 'the strong winds in the month of Ādi can even move a stone grinder')
  • Puratāsi 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 maḻai meaning the "Non-stop downpour".
  • Margaḻi falls in winter in Tamil Nadu, and is an auspicious month. The month is considered sacred. During the holy month of Margaḻi, 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:

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. ↑ JV Chelliah: Pattupattu: Ten Tamil Idylls. Tamil Verses with English Translation. Thanjavur: Tamil University, 1985 -Lines 160 to 162 of the Neṭunalvāṭai.
  6. ↑ 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
  7. ↑ Professor Vaiyapuri Pillai, 'History of Tamil Language and Literature' Chennai, 1956, pp. 35, 151
  8. ↑ Tolkappiyam Porulatikaram, Peraciriyam. Ed. by R.P.C Pavanantam Pillai. 2 Vols, Longmans,Creen and Co, Madras/Bombay/Calcutta. 1917
  9. ↑ 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
  10. ↑ Lakshmi Holmstrom, Silappadikaram, Manimekalai, Orient Longman Ltd, Madras 1996.
  11. ↑ 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
  12. ↑ Dershowitz, Nachum and Reingold, Edward M.: Calendrical Calculations. Third edition, Cambridge University Press (2008).
  13. ↑ Underhill, Muriel M.: The Hindu Religious Year. Association Press, Kolkata, India (1921).
  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. ↑ Achuthananda, Swami (27 August 2018). The Ascent of Vishnu and the Fall of Brahma. Relianz Communications Pty Ltd. p. 107. ISBN 978-0-9757883-3-2.
  23. ↑ Wijk, Walther E. van: On Hindu Chronology, parts I–V. Acta Orientalia (1922–1927).
  24. ↑ 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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