Tamil calendar

The Tamil calendar is a solar and sidereal Hindu calendar used in Tamil Nadu. It is also used in Puducherry (India), and by the Tamil population in Malaysia, Singapore, Mauritius and Sri Lanka. It is also used by Telugu speaking people in Tamilnadu. It is used today for cultural, religious and agricultural events, 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, Bengal, Kerala, Manipur, Nepal, Orissa, Rajasthan and the Punjab.

There are several festivals based on the Tamil Hindu calendar. The Tamil New Year follows the nirayanam vernal equinox and generally falls on 13 or 14 April of the Gregorian year. 13 or 14 April 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 on the same date in April which is observed by most traditional calendars of the rest of India - Assam, Bengal, Kerala, Orissa, Manipur, Punjab etc. This also coincides with the traditional new year in Burma, Cambodia, Laos, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh Nepal and Thailand. 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 starts on 13 April 2012, Kaliyuga 5114. Vikrama and Shalivahana Saka eras are also used. There are several references in early Tamil literature to the April new year. Nakkirar, the author of the Nedunalvaadai writes in the 3rd century that the Sun travels from Mesha/Chitterai through 11 successive Raasis or signs of the zodiac^[1]. Kūdalūr Kizhaar in the 3rd century refers to Mesha Raasi/Chitterai as the commencement of the year in the Puranaanooru^[2][3]. The Tolkaapiyam is the oldest surviving Tamil grammar that divides the year into six seasons where Chitterai marks the start of the Ilavenil season or summer. The 8th century Silappadikaaram mentions the 12 Raasis or zodiac signs starting with Mesha/Chitterai^[4]. The Manimekalai alludes to the Hindu solar calendar as we know it today. Adiyaarkunalaar, an early medieval commentator or Urai-asiriyar, mentions the 12 months of the Tamil Hindu calendar with particular reference to Chitterai. 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^[5].

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.

This list compiles the days of the week in the Tamil calendar:

No.	Kizhamai (Tamil)	Weekday (English)	Vaasara (Sanskrit)	Lord or Planet	Gregorian Calendar equivalent
01.	ஞாயிற்றுக்கிழமை	Gnaayitru-kizhamai	Ravi-vaasara	Sun	Sunday
02.	திங்கட்கிழமை	Thingat-kizhamai	Soma-vaasara	Moon	Monday
03.	செவ்வாய்க்கிழமை	Sevvaai-kizhamai	Mangala-vaasara	Mars	Tuesday
04.	புதன்கிழமை	Buthan-kizhamai	Budha-vaasara	Mercury	Wednesday
05.	வியாழக்கிழமை	Viyaazha-kizhamai	Guru Vaasara	Jupiter	Thursday
06.	வெள்ளிக்கிழமை	Velli-kizhamai	Sukra-vaasara	Venus	Friday
07.	சனிக்கிழமை	Sani-kizhamai	Shani-vaasara	Saturn	Saturday

For Tamils the each day begins at the sun rise. The evening of Thursday(the meeting point of Thursday and Friday) loans are to be eschewed during this period till Friday wanes off. In this regard Paruthimar Kalingar has done extensive research to prove the beginning of a Tamil day

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)	Sanskrit Name *	Gregorian Calendar equivalent
01.	சித்திரை	Cittirai	Chaitra	mid-April to mid-May
02.	வைகாசி	Vaikāci	Vaisākha	mid-May to mid-June
03.	ஆனி	Āni	Jyaishtha	mid-June to mid-July
04.	ஆடி	Āṭi	Āshāḍha	mid-July to mid-August
05.	ஆவணி	Āvaṇi	Shrāvaṇa	mid-August to mid-September
06.	புரட்டாசி	Puraṭṭāci	Bhādrapada/Prauṣṭhapada	mid-September to mid-October
07.	ஐப்பசி	Aippaci	Ashwina	mid-October to mid-November
08.	கார்த்திகை	Kārttikai	Kārttika	mid-November to mid-December
09.	மார்கழி	Mārkazhi	Mārgaṣīrṣa	mid-December to mid-January
10.	தை	Tai	Pausha/Taiṣya	mid-January to mid-February
11.	மாசி	Māci	Māgha	mid-February to mid-March
12.	பங்குனி	Paṅkuni	Phalguna	mid-March to mid-April

Note: The Sanskrit months above would start one month ahead of Tamil months since the Tamil calendar is a solar calendar while the Sanskrit calendar is a lunisolar calendar

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	English Transliteration	English Translation	Season in Sanskrit	Season in English	Tamil Months	Gregorian Months
இளவேனில்	ila-venil	Light warmth	Vasanta	Spring	chithirai, vaigāsi	Mid Apr - Mid Jun
முதுவேனில்	mutu-venil	Harsh warmth	Grishma	Summer	āni, ādi	Mid Jun - Mid Aug
கார்	kār	Dark clouds, Rain	Varsha	Rainy	āvani, puratāci	Mid Aug - Mid Oct
குளிர்	kulir	Chill, Cold	Sharada	Autumn	aippasi, kārthigai	Mid Oct - Mid Dec
முன்பனி	mun-pani	Early dew	Hemanta	Early winter	mārkazhi, tai	Mid Dec - Mid Feb
பின்பனி	pin-pani	Late dew	Sishira	Late winter	māsi, panguni	Mid Feb - Mid Apr

Sixty-year cycle

The 60-year cycle of the Tamil calendar is common to 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. 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	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	Bahudhanya	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.

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.

Month	Days	Notes
சித்திரை - Chithirai(April)	14 April - 14 May	Chitra Pournami & Varusha pirappu are the most important festivals in this month. Famous Chithirai thiruvizha is ceiebrated in Madurai Meenakshi Amman temple.
வைகாசி - Vaikaasi(May)	15 May - 14 June	Vaikaasi Visaakam is the most important day in this month.
ஆணி - Aani(June)	15 June - 14 July	Aani Thirumanjanam or Aani Uttaram for Lord Nataraja is the most famous day in this month.
ஆடி - Aadi(July)	15 July - 14 August	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(August)	15 August - 15 September	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.
புரட்டாசி - Purattaasi(September)	15 September - 15 October	An important month for Vaishnavas. Purattaasi Sani(Saturday) is an auspicious day for Lord Vishnu.
ஐப்பசி - Aippasi(October)	15 October - 14 November	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(November)	15 November - 14 December	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(December)	15 December - 14 January	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. This is also a very popular festival in Kerala, where it is called Thiruvaadira. The offering made to Lord siva is the Thiruvaadira Kali. Mukkodi Ekathesi is called "Sorgavasal Thirappu" for Lord Vishnu. The Tiruvembaavai fast takes place in this month.
தை - Thai(January) (pronounced Thy)	15 January - 14 February	Pongal, which is the harvest festival, is celebrated on the first day of this month. Thai Friday 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").
மாசி - Maasi(February)	15 February - 14 March	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(March)	15 March - 13 April	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. 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 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 considered inauspicious, so weddings do not often fall in this month. Aadi is also 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. Asdi 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 ia an inauspicious month for newlyweds to sleep together because a woman who conceives in this month will have a difficult delivery in May, the hottest month in Tamil Nadu (Agni natchathiram [pinezu] last 7 days of Chitharai and [munezu] first 7 days of Vaigasi).?)

• Purattaasi is when most of the non-vegetarian Tamil people fast from meat for a month. This faith can be considered similar to fasts undertaken by Muslims during Ramadan. 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 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".

• Maargazhi falls in winter in Tamil Nadu, and is considered auspicious for unmarried women to find a groom. The Shaivite fast of Tiru-vembaavai and the Vaishnava fast of Tiru-paavai are also observed in this month.

• The total number of days in a Tamil Calendar is an average 365 days and the days of the week are named similarly to those of the western calendar. The Vakiya Panchangam is employed for both sacred and civil calculations. The Trikanitha Panchangam is employed for astrological calculations.

Festivals

The Tamil Calendar is so important to the life of 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.

See also

• Puthandu or Tamil New Year
• Candravakyas

External Links

• Tamil Calendar 2012 @ tamildailycalendar.in
• [1] @ Tamil Calendar for all past and future years (தமிழ் நாள்காட்டி)

References

1. ^ Lines 160 to 162 of the Nedunalvaadai
2. ^ Poem 229 of Puranaanooru
3. ^ Professor Vaiyapuri Pillai, 'History of Tamil Language and Literature' Chennai, 1956 page 35, 151
4. ^ Canto 26 of Silappadikaaram. Canto 5 also describes the foremost festival in the Chola country - the Indra Vizha celebrated in Chitterai
5. ^ G.H. Luce, Old Burma - Early Pagan, Locust Valley, New York, Page 68, and A.B. Griswold, 'Towards a History of Sukhodaya Art, Bangkok 1967, pages 12-32