Tamil calendar
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The Tamil Calendar is used in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry in India, and by the Tamil population in Malaysia, Singapore and Sri Lanka. It is used today for cultural, religious and agricultural events, with the Gregorian calendar having supplanted it for official use both within and outside India.
There are several festivals based on the Tamil Hindu calendar. The Tamil New Year follows the nirayanam vernal equinox and generally falls on April 13 or 14th of the Gregorian year. April 13 or 14th marks the first day of the traditional Tamil calendar and this remains a public holiday in both Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka. Tropical vernal equinox fall around 22 March, and adding 23 degrees of trepidation or oscillation to it, we get the Hindu sidereal or Nirayana Mesha Sankranti (Sun's transition into nirayana Aries). Hence, the Tamil calendar begins with the same date which is observed by most traditional calendars of the rest of India. The 60-year cycle is also very ancient and is observed by most traditional calendars of India and China, and is related to 5 revolutions of Jupiter according to popular belief, or to 60-year orbit of Nakshatras (stars) as mentioned in Surya Siddhanta.
The traditional Tamil year is (From April 13, 2008), Kaliyuga 5110. Vikrama and Shalivahana Saka eras are also used.
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[edit] Week
The days of 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.
The following list compiles the days of the week in Tamil Calendar:
| No. | Weekday (Tamil) | Weekday (English) | Lord or Planet | Gregorian Calendar equivalent |
| 01. | ஞாயிற்றுக்கிழமை | Jnyaayitru-kizhamai | Sun | Sunday |
| 02. | திங்கட்கிழமை | Thingat-kizhamai | Moon | Monday |
| 03. | செவ்வாய்க்கிழமை | Sevvaai-kizhamai | Mars | Tuesday |
| 04. | புதன்கிழமை | Buthan-kizhamai | Mercury | Wednesday |
| 05. | வியாழக்கிழமை | Viyaazha-kizhamai | Jupiter | Thursday |
| 06. | வெள்ளிக்கிழமை | Velli-kizhamai | Venus | Friday |
| 07. | சனிக்கிழமை | Sani-kizhamai | Saturn | Saturday |
[edit] Months
The number of days in a month varies between 29 and 32.
The following list compiles the months of the Tamil Calendar.
| No. | Month (Tamil) | Month (English) | Gregorian Calendar equivalent |
| 01. | சித்திரை | Cittirai | mid-April to mid-May |
| 02. | வைகாசி | Vaikāci | mid-May to mid-June |
| 03. | ஆனி | Āni | mid-June to mid-July |
| 04. | ஆடி | Āṭi | mid-July to mid-August |
| 05. | ஆவணி | Āvaṇi | mid-August to mid-September |
| 06. | புரட்டாசி | Puraṭṭāci | mid-September to mid-October |
| 07. | ஐப்பசி | Aippaci | mid-October to mid-November |
| 08. | கார்த்திகை | Kārttikai | mid-November to mid-December |
| 09. | மார்கழி | Mārkaḻi | mid-December to mid-January |
| 10. | தை | Tai | mid-January to mid-February |
| 11. | மாசி | Māci | mid-February to mid-March |
| 12. | பங்குனி | Paṅkuni | mid-March to mid-April |
[edit] Sixty-year cycle
The 60-year cycle of the Tamil Calendar is also found in many North 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. This 60-year cycle is also used in the Chinese calendar.
After the completion of sixty years, the calendar starts anew with the first year. This corresponds to the Hindu "century." The Vakya or Tirukannitha Panchangam (the traditional Tamil almanac) outlines this sequence.
The following list presents the current 60-year cycle of the Tamil calendar:
| 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 | Pramodhoodha | 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 | Thaadhu | 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 | Subaanu | 2003 - 2004 | 47. | பிரமாதீச | Pramaadhisa | 2033 - 2034 | |
| 18. | தாரண | Thaarana | 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 | Thunmathi | 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 |
[edit] Celebrations
The months of the Tamil Calendar gains more significance and are deeply rooted to the faith of the Tamil Hindus. Some months are considered very auspicious while a few are considered inauspicious as well.
Some of the celebrations of 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.
| Month | Days | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Chithirai(April) | April 14 - May 14 | |
| Vaikaasi(May) | May 15 - June 14 | Vaikaasi Visaakam is the most important day in this month. |
| Aani(June) | June 15 - July 14 | |
| Aadi(July) | July 15 - August 14 | A most important month for women. The most auspicious days are Fridays and Tuesdays in this month, called Aadi VeLLi and Aadi Chevvai and the Aadi Amavasya. Aadi Pooram is also a special day. |
| Aavani(August) | August 15 - September 15 | An important month with many rituals. Brahmins change their sacred thread on Aavani Avittam. Each Sunday of the month is dedicated to prayers. |
| Purattaasi(September) | September 15 - October 15 | An important month for Vaishnavas. Purattaasi Sani(Saturday) is an auspicious day. |
| Aippasi(October) | October 15 - November 14 | The monsoons typically start in this month over Tamil Nadu. Hence the saying, "Aippasi Mazhai, adai mazhai" - meaning "Aippasi rains are persistent rains". |
| Karthikai(November) | November 15 - December 14 | Another auspicious month for Murugan devotees for the celebration of Thirukaarthigai. The Krithikaa Pournami is a special day as it is the full moon day in the month of Kaarthikai, and the star on that day is Krithikaa.
Each Monday of this month is dedicated to the worship of Lord Murugan. |
| Maargazhi(December) | December 15 - January 14 | This is again a special month in the Tamil Calendar. Temples open earlier in the mornings. Devotees throng the temples early in the mornings for puja and prasadam - the offering made to the deity that is distributed to the devotees. Arudra Darisanam (Thiruvaadirai star in Tamil) is the most auspicious day in this month. This is also a very popular festival in Kerala, where it is just called Thiruvaadira. The offering made to Lord siva is the Thiruvaadira KaLi. |
| Thai(January) (pronounced Thy) |
January 15 - February 14 | The special month when Pongal, which is the harvest festival, is celebrated on the first day. Thai Sukrawaaram is a popular day among Telugu speaking peoples settled in Tamil Nadu. Thaipusam is also a special day for Murugan devotees, who carry Kavadis to one of the Aarupadaiveedu (Literally meaning "six abodes"). |
| Maasi(February) | February 15 - March 14 | Maasi Magam is the special day. |
| Panguni(March) | March 15 - April 13 | The last month of the year. Panguni Uthiram is a famous festival and special to Murugan devotees. The State Government of Tamil Nadu declares it a holiday. Offices and schools remain closed. However, shops remain open and do brisk business. The active film industry of the state also releases a few new films, and cinemas usually overflow with eager fans waiting to watch the earliest show of their favourite stars on the big screen. |
[edit] Significance
- The Hindus had developed a system of calendrics that encapsulates vast periods of time. 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 (cf. The Secret Doctrine, 2:49-51).
- This calendar contains a calculation of something over three hundred million years for the age of the present earth since sedimentation occurred, and a period of somewhat more than eighteen million years since the first appearance of our mankind.
- The 10th Tamil month, called Thai, falls in the mid-January every year. It is celebrated with much enthusiasm among the Tamil Community all over the world. It is marked by gifting new dresses for the family members and giving prayers to God wishing for prosperity among the people for the coming year. The month of Thai and the fifth month Aavani are considered very auspicious and most marriages usually happen during those months than the other months of the year.
- The fourth month Aadi is considered inauspicious, so usually weddings do not happen in the month. Aadi is also the month of preparation for next crop cycle by farmers. Hence, farming communities avoid major events like weddings in this month. On the contrary (or as advantage) the communities that don't actively contribute/participate in farming take the advantage of having important functions like wedding in this month. For example, the business community prefers this month for wedding. It is usually the worst month for thriving businesses and recently this situation has changed a lot, as the businesses started providing discount shopping during that month. Each Friday of this month is set aside for prayer and worship.
- And another important point to note that for the newly married couple is also an inauspicious month to sleep together. The reason being if the girl who is conceived in this month will deliver the baby in the month of May, the hottest month in Tamil Nadu (Agni natchathiram [pinezu] last 7 days of Chitharai and [munezu] first 7 days of Vaigasi) and it will be tough period for baby delivery.
- The sixth month Purattaasi is auspicious to the effect that, most of the non-vegetarian Tamil people do not eat meat during the month. This faith can be considered much similar to the fasting by Muslims during the month of Ramadan. Each Saturday of this month is set apart to venerate the planet Saturn.
- The full moon days and the new moon days have considerable importance among the Tamil people. One of the famous festivals, the Deepavali, is celebrated on the new moon day, in the seventh month Aipassi. The month of Aipassi is usually characterised by the North-East Monsoon in Tamil Nadu, which has given birth to a phrase, Aipassi Adai Mazhai meaning the "Non-stop Downpour".
- The ninth month Maargazhi is characterised by winter in Tamil Nadu, and considered auspicious for maiden women to find their groom. The Shaivite fast of Tiru-vembaavai and the Vaishnava fast of Tiru-paavai are observed in this month.
- The total number of days in a Tamil Calendar is an average 365 days and day's name are also similar to the western calendar. In temples, and for day to day purposes, Vakiya Panchangam is used. For astrological calculations Trikanitha Panchangam is used.
[edit] Festivals
The Tamil Calendar gains so much significance in the life of the Tamil-speaking people that most of the Festivals of Tamil Nadu are based on it. Some of Festivals include Tamil New Year or Puthandu in mid-April, Thai Pongal, Deepavali, Panguni Uthiram, Thirukaarthigai, Aadiperukku, Navaratri etc.
[edit] See Also
- Puthandu or Tamil New Year
[edit] References
