Tamil calendar

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The months of the Tamil calendar Month general.jpg
The months of the Tamil calendar

The Tamil calendar is a sidereal solar calendar used by the Tamil people. [1] [2] It is used in the Indian subcontinent, and other countries with significant Tamil population like Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Singapore, Myanmar and Mauritius. It is used in contemporary times for cultural, religious and agricultural events, with the Gregorian calendar largely used for official purposes. [3]

Contents

History

There are several references to the calendar in early Tamil literature. Nakkeerar, the 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. [4] The same is referenced to by Kūdalūr Kiḻar in Puṟanāṉūṟu . [5] [6] Tolkappiyam , the oldest surviving Tamil grammar text, divides the year into six seasons and Chittirai marks the start of the "ilavenil" (summer) season. [7] The fifth century CE treatise of Cilappatikaram mentions the 12 rāśis (zodiac signs) that correspond to the Tamil months. [8] The sixth century epic Manimekalai alludes to this to thhe Hindu solar calendar. [9]

Inscriptional evidences from Pagan in Myanmar from the 11th century CE and in Sukhothai in Thailand from the 14th century CE point to South Indian courtiers being tasked with defining the traditional calendar that followed a similar cycle. [10]

Description

The Tamil calendar is based on the Hindu system of calendrics that was used to calculate date and time. [11] The Tirukkanida Panchanga derived from astronomical data is used as a basis for the same. [12] The calendar is similar to traditional calendars followed in other parts of the Indian subcontinent, and Southeast Asia. [13]

The Tamil calendar follows a 60-year cycle similar to the other traditional calendars of India. [14] The Tamil New Year follows the Nirayana system , and usually falls on 13 or 14 April in the Gregorian year. [15] The new year starts on the date arrived by adding the days corresponding to the 23 degrees of trepidation (oscillation) to the vernal equinox, when the Sun begins its transition as per the Hindu sidereal calendar. [16] [ page needed ] A Tamil calendar year might consist of 365 or 366 days in a year. [17]

Sixty-year cycle

The 60-year cycle is common to Hindu traditional calendars, with similar names and sequence of years. The earliest reference of the same is in Surya Siddhanta , dated between 4th and 9th century CE. There are parallels to the sexagenary cycle used in the Chinese calendar, [18] [19] [20] though which influenced the other has been subject to debate. [21]

After the completion of a cycle of sixty years, the calendar re-starts with the first year of a new cycle. [22] As per the Hindu Panchangam , it represents the year in which Shani Saturn (which takes 30 years to complete one cycle round the Sun) and Vyalan (Jupiter) (which takes 12 years to complete one cycle round the Sun) come to a same position after 60 years. [23] [24]

The following list presents the current 60-year cycle of the Tamil calendar: [25]

No.NameTransliterationGregorian YearNo.NameTransliterationGregorian Year
01.பிரபவPrabhāva1987–198831.ஹேவிளம்பிHēvilaṃbi2017–2018
02.விபவVibhāva1988–198932.விளம்பிVilaṃbi2018–2019
03.சுக்லŚuklā1989–199033.விகாரிVikāri2019–2020
04.பிரமோதூதPramadutā1990–199134.சார்வரிŚarvarī2020–2021
05.பிரசோற்பத்திPrachopati1991–199235.பிலவPlava2021–2022
06.ஆங்கீரசĀṅgirasa1992–199336.சுபகிருதுŚubhakṛt2022–2023
07.ஸ்ரீமுகŚrīmukha1993–199437.சோபக்ருத்Śobhakṛt2023–2024
08.பவBhava1994–199538.க்ரோதிKrodhī2024–2025
09.யுவYuva1995–199639.விசுவாசுவViśvāvasuva2025–2026
10.தாதுDhātu1996–199740.பரபாவParapāva2026–2027
11.ஈஸ்வரĪśvara1997–199841.ப்லவங்கPlavaṅga2027–2028
12.வெகுதானியVehudānya1998–199942.கீலகKīlaka2028–2029
13.பிரமாதிPramāti1999–200043.சௌம்யSaumya2029–2030
14.விக்ரமVikrama2000–200144.சாதாரணSādhāraṇa2030–2031
15.விஷுViṣu2001–200245.விரோதகிருதுVirodhikṛti2031–2032
16.சித்திரபானுCitrabhānu2002–200346.பரிதாபிParitapi2032–2033
17.சுபானுSubhānu2003–200447.பிரமாதீசPramādīca2033–2034
18.தாரணDhārana2004–200548.ஆனந்தĀnanda2034–2035
19.பார்த்திபPartibhā2005–200649.ராட்சசRākṣasaḥ2035–2036
20.வியViya2006–200750.நளNala2036–2037
21.சர்வஜித்Sarvajit2007–200851.பிங்களPiṅgāla2037–2038
22.சர்வதாரிSarvadhārī2008–200952.காளயுக்திKālayukti2038–2039
23.விரோதிVirodhī2009–201053.சித்தார்த்திSiddhidātrī2039–2040
24.விக்ருதிVikṛti2010–201154.ரௌத்திரிRautrī2040–2041
25.கரKara2011–201255.துன்மதிDhūnmatī2041–2042
26.நந்தனNandhana2012–201356.துந்துபிDundubhi2042–2043
27.விஜயVijaya2013–201457.ருத்ரோத்காரிRudhirōtgāri2043–2044
28.ஜயJaya2014–201558.ரக்தாட்சிRākṣasī2044–2045
29.மன்மதManmatha2015–201659.க்ரோதனKrodhanā2045–2046
30.துன்முகிDhuṇmūkī2016–201760.அட்சயAkṣayā2046–2047

Months

There are 12 months in the Tamil calendar, with 29 to 32 days per month. Tamil months start and end based on the Sun's shift from one rāsi to the other, and the names of the months are based on the star on the start of the pournami in that month. [26] [27]

Month (in Tamil)English transliteration Hindu calendar Nakshatra (star) Gregorian calendar Number of days
சித்திரைChittirai Chaitra Chittirai mid-April to mid-May30 - 31 days
வைகாசிVaikāsi Vaisakha Visakam mid-May to mid-June31 - 32 days
ஆனிĀni Jyestha Anusham mid-June to mid-July31 - 32 days
ஆடிĀdi Asadha Pooradam or Uthiradam mid-July to mid-August31 - 32 days
ஆவணிĀvaṇi Shravana Thiruvonam mid-August to mid-September31 - 32 days
புரட்டாசிPuraṭṭāsi Bhadrapada Pooratathi or Uthiratathi mid-September to mid-October30 - 31 days
ஐப்பசிAippasi Asvina Ashvini mid-October to mid-November29 - 30 days
கார்த்திகைKārtikai Kartika Kartikai mid-November to mid-December29 - 30 days
மார்கழிMārgaḻi Margashirsha Mirgashirsham mid-December to mid-January29 - 30 days
தைTai Pausha Pusham mid-January to mid-February29 - 30 days
மாசிMāsi Magha Magham mid-February to mid-March29 - 30 days
பங்குனிPanguni Phalguna Uttiram mid-March to mid-April30 - 31 days

The Tamil calendar month starts a few days after the corresponding Hindu calendar month as the Tamil calendar is a solar calendar, while the other is a lunisolar calendar. [28]

Seasons

A Tamil year is divided into six seasons, each of which lasts two months. [29] [30]

Season (in Tamil)English transliterationEnglish translationSeason (in Sanskrit)Season (in English)Tamil month(s) Gregorian month(s)
இளவேனில்Ila-venilLight warmthVasanta Spring Chittirai, VaikāsiMid Apr – Mid Jun
முதுவேனில்Mudhu-venilHarsh warmthGrishma Summer Āni, ĀdiMid Jun – Mid Aug
கார்KārDark clouds/RainVarsha Monsoon Āvaṇi, PuraṭṭāsiMid Aug – Mid Oct
குளிர்KulirColdSharada Autumn Aippasi, KārtikaiMid Oct – Mid Dec
முன்பனிMun-paniEarly mistHemanta Winter Mārgaḻi, ThaiMid Dec – Mid Feb
பின்பனிPin-paniLate mistSishiraPre-vernal Māsi, PanguniMid Feb – Mid Apr

Days of a 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. A week usually starts with Sunday, and ends in a Saturday. [31] [32]

Day (in Tamil)English transliteration Sanskrit Deity (Celestial body) Gregorian Calendar
ஞாயிற்றுக்கிழமைNyayitru-kiḻamaiRavi-vāsara Surya (Sun) Sunday
திங்கட்கிழமைTingat-kiḻamaiSoma-vāsara Chandra (Moon) Monday
செவ்வாய்க்கிழமைChevvai-kiḻamaiMangala-vāsara Mangala (Mars) Tuesday
புதன்கிழமைBudhan-kiḻamaiBudha-vāsara Budha (Mercury) Wednesday
வியாழக்கிழமைVyaḻa-kiḻamaiGuru-vāsara Brihaspati (Jupiter) Thursday
வெள்ளிக்கிழமைVelli-kiḻamaiŚukra-vāsara Shukra (Venus) Friday
சனிக்கிழமைSani-kiḻamaiŚani-vāsara Shani (Saturn) Saturday

Significance

The various days and months of the Tamil Calendar are of specific significance to Tamil Hindus. The Vakiya Panchangam is employed for calculation of sacred days, while the Tirugaṇita Panchangam is employed for astrological calculations. [33]

The months and their significant events and festivals are listed below. [28] [34]

MonthEvents/festivals
Chittirai Puthandu, Chitra Pournami
Vaikāsi Vaikasi Visakam
Aani Aani Thirumanjanam
Āadi Chevvai (Tuesdays) and Velli (Fridays) dedicated to Mariamman; Aadi Amavasai, Pooram, Aadi Perukku
Āvaṇi Avani Avittam, Janmashtami, Vinayakar Chaturti
Puratāsi Shani (Saturdays) dedicated to Vishnu; Navarathri
Aippasi Deepavali
Kārtikai Thingal (Mondays) dedicated to Shiva; Karthigai Deepam, Kartika Purnima
Margaḻi Thiruvathirai, Vaikuntha Ekadasi [35]
Thai Pongal, Thaipusam
Māsi Masi Magam, Shivaratri
Panguni Panguni Uthiram

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. ↑ JV Chelliah: Pattupattu: Ten Tamil Idylls. Tamil Verses with English Translation. Thanjavur: Tamil University, 1985 -Lines 160 to 162 of the Neṭunalvāṭai.
  5. ↑ 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
  6. ↑ Professor Vaiyapuri Pillai, 'History of Tamil Language and Literature' Chennai, 1956, pp. 35, 151
  7. ↑ Tolkappiyam Porulatikaram, Peraciriyam. Ed. by R.P.C Pavanantam Pillai. 2 Vols, Longmans,Creen and Co, Madras/Bombay/Calcutta. 1917
  8. ↑ 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
  9. ↑ Lakshmi Holmstrom, Silappadikaram, Manimekalai, Orient Longman Ltd, Madras 1996.
  10. ↑ 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
  11. ↑ Wijk, Walther E. van (1922–1927). On Hindu Chronology, parts I–V. Acta Orientalia.
  12. ↑ H.P. Blavatsky (1888). The Secret Doctrine: The Synthesis of Science, Religion and Philosophy. Theosophical University Press. pp. 49–51.
  13. ↑ Underhill, Muriel M. (1921). The Hindu Religious Year. Kolkata: Association Press.
  14. ↑ "The Tamil Calendar – 60-Year Cycle". Time and Date. Retrieved 1 October 2025.
  15. ↑ "Tamil Calendar". Speaking Tree. Retrieved 1 October 2025.
  16. ↑ Dershowitz, Nachum and Reingold, Edward M. (2008). Calendrical Calculations (third ed.). Cambridge University Press.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  17. ↑ "South-Indian Chronological Tables (1889)" (PDF). Tamil Digital Library. Retrieved 1 October 2025.
  18. ↑ Samuel Wells Williams, The Middle Kingdom, V 2, Columbia University Press, New York, 2005 pp. 69–70
  19. ↑ Paul Kekai Manansala, Quests of the Dragon and Bird Clan, 2006, p. 236
  20. ↑ Terrien de Lacouperie, Western Origin of the Early Chinese Civilization: From 2,300 BC to 20 AD, Asher and Co, London 1894 p. 78
  21. ↑ George Gheverghese Joseph, Crest of the Peacock: Non-European Roots of Mathematics, Princeton University Press, 2011, p. 304-305
  22. ↑ "Indian Calendar Part 3 – The Panchangam". Anaadi Foundation. Retrieved 1 October 2025.
  23. ↑ "Samvatsara – The Name of the Hindu Year". The Divine India. Retrieved 1 October 2025.
  24. ↑ "Samvatsara". CulKey Foundation. Retrieved 1 October 2025.
  25. ↑ Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami, Vedic calendar: Kadavul Hindu Panchangam, Himalayan Academy, Kapaa, Hawaii, 1997; pp. 5–6,Glossary p 10
  26. ↑ "Tamil calendar explained – months". Everything Explained Today. Retrieved 1 October 2025.
  27. ↑ "Cultural Chronicles in Calendar". The New Indian Express . Retrieved 1 October 2025. On the full moon day … the nakshatra (star) that is regarded to be ascendant … hence the month is named
  28. 1 2 Kielhorn, Franz: Festal Days of the Hindu Lunar Calendar. The Indian Antiquary XXVI, 177–187 (1897).
  29. ↑ "Six Seasons: Same for South & North Indians". Tamil & Vedas. Retrieved 1 October 2025.
  30. ↑ "Tamil Calendar – Seasons". SpeakingTree. Retrieved 1 October 2025.
  31. ↑ "Tamil Calendar – Days of the Week". Time and Date. Retrieved 1 October 2025.
  32. ↑ "Who Named the Days of the Week?". Tamil and Vedas. Retrieved 1 October 2025.
  33. ↑ "Hindu Almanacs: Sentential and Mathematical in Sri Lanka" (PDF). Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences. 9 (2). December 2020. Retrieved 1 October 2025.
  34. ↑ Underhill, Muriel M.: The Hindu Religious Year. Association Press, Kolkata, India (1921).
  35. ↑ 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.
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