Tamil calendar
Encyclopedia
The Tamil calendar is a solar
and sidereal
Hindu calendar
used in Tamil Nadu
. It is also used in Pondicherry (India), and by the Tamil
population in Malaysia, Singapore
, Mauritius
and Sri Lanka
. It is also used by Telugu speaking people in Tamil Nadu. 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. Kūdalūr Kizhaar in the 3rd century refers to Mesha Raasi/Chitterai as the commencement of the year in the Puranaanooru. 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. 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.
, 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:
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
The following list compiles the months of the Tamil Calendar.
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
, which Varahamihira
r (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:
Hindu
s. 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.
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.
Solar calendar
A solar calendar is a calendar whose dates indicate the position of the earth on its revolution around the sun .-Tropical solar calendars:...
and sidereal
Sidereal time
Sidereal time is a time-keeping system astronomers use to keep track of the direction to point their telescopes to view a given star in the night sky...
Hindu calendar
Hindu calendar
The hindu calendar used in ancient times has undergone many changes in the process of regionalization, and today there are several regional Indian calendars, as well as an Indian national calendar. Nepali calendar, Bengali calendar, Malayalam calendar, Tamil calendar, Telugu calendar, Kannada...
used in Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
. It is also used in Pondicherry (India), and by the Tamil
Tamil people
Tamil people , also called Tamils or Tamilians, are an ethnic group native to Tamil Nadu, India and the north-eastern region of Sri Lanka. Historic and post 15th century emigrant communities are also found across the world, notably Malaysia, Singapore, Mauritius, South Africa, Australia, Canada,...
population in Malaysia, Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
, Mauritius
Mauritius
Mauritius , officially the Republic of Mauritius is an island nation off the southeast coast of the African continent in the southwest Indian Ocean, about east of Madagascar...
and Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
. It is also used by Telugu speaking people in Tamil Nadu. It is used today for cultural, religious and agricultural events, with the Gregorian calendar
Gregorian calendar
The Gregorian calendar, also known as the Western calendar, or Christian calendar, is the internationally accepted civil calendar. It was introduced by Pope Gregory XIII, after whom the calendar was named, by a decree signed on 24 February 1582, a papal bull known by its opening words Inter...
largely used for official purposes both within and outside India. The Tamil calendar is based on the classical Hindu solar calendar
Hindu calendar
The hindu calendar used in ancient times has undergone many changes in the process of regionalization, and today there are several regional Indian calendars, as well as an Indian national calendar. Nepali calendar, Bengali calendar, Malayalam calendar, Tamil calendar, Telugu calendar, Kannada...
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
Assam
Assam , also, rarely, Assam Valley and formerly the Assam Province , is a northeastern state of India and is one of the most culturally and geographically distinct regions of the country...
, Bengal
Bengal
Bengal is a historical and geographical region in the northeast region of the Indian Subcontinent at the apex of the Bay of Bengal. Today, it is mainly divided between the sovereign land of People's Republic of Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal, although some regions of the previous...
, Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
, Orissa
Orissa
Orissa , officially Odisha since Nov 2011, is a state of India, located on the east coast of India, by the Bay of Bengal. It is the modern name of the ancient nation of Kalinga, which was invaded by the Maurya Emperor Ashoka in 261 BC. The modern state of Orissa was established on 1 April...
, Manipur
Manipur
Manipur is a state in northeastern India, with the city of Imphal as its capital. Manipur is bounded by the Indian states of Nagaland to the north, Mizoram to the south and Assam to the west; it also borders Burma to the east. It covers an area of...
, Punjab etc. This also coincides with the traditional new year in Burma, Cambodia
Cambodia
Cambodia , officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia...
, Laos
Laos
Laos Lao: ສາທາລະນະລັດ ປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ປະຊາຊົນລາວ Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao, officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic, is a landlocked country in Southeast Asia, bordered by Burma and China to the northwest, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the south and Thailand to the west...
, Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
, Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
Nepal and Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
. 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
Surya Siddhanta
The Surya Siddhanta is one of the earliest siddhanta in archeo-astronomy of the Hindus by an unknown author. It describes the archeo-astronomy theories, principles and methods of the ancient Hindus. This siddhanta is supposed to be the knowledge that the Sun god gave to an Asura called Maya. Asuras...
.
The traditional Tamil year starts on 13 April 2012, Kaliyuga 5114. Vikrama and Shalivahana
Shalivahana era
The Shalivahana era, also known as the Saka era, is used with Hindu calendars, the Indian national calendar, and the Cambodian Buddhist calendar. Its year zero begins near the vernal equinox of the year 78....
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. Kūdalūr Kizhaar in the 3rd century refers to Mesha Raasi/Chitterai as the commencement of the year in the Puranaanooru. 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. The Manimekalai
Manimekalai
Manimekalai or Maṇimekalai , written by the Tamil Buddhist poet Seethalai Saathanar is one of the masterpieces of Tamil literature. It is considered to be one of the five great epics of Tamil literature. Manimekalai is a poem in 30 cantos...
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.
Week
The days of the Tamil Calendar relate to the celestial bodies in the solar system: SunSun
The Sun is the star at the center of the Solar System. It is almost perfectly spherical and consists of hot plasma interwoven with magnetic fields...
, Moon
Moon
The Moon is Earth's only known natural satellite,There are a number of near-Earth asteroids including 3753 Cruithne that are co-orbital with Earth: their orbits bring them close to Earth for periods of time but then alter in the long term . These are quasi-satellites and not true moons. For more...
, Mars
Mars
Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun in the Solar System. The planet is named after the Roman god of war, Mars. It is often described as the "Red Planet", as the iron oxide prevalent on its surface gives it a reddish appearance...
, Mercury
Mercury (planet)
Mercury is the innermost and smallest planet in the Solar System, orbiting the Sun once every 87.969 Earth days. The orbit of Mercury has the highest eccentricity of all the Solar System planets, and it has the smallest axial tilt. It completes three rotations about its axis for every two orbits...
, Jupiter
Jupiter
Jupiter is the fifth planet from the Sun and the largest planet within the Solar System. It is a gas giant with mass one-thousandth that of the Sun but is two and a half times the mass of all the other planets in our Solar System combined. Jupiter is classified as a gas giant along with Saturn,...
, Venus
Venus
Venus is the second planet from the Sun, orbiting it every 224.7 Earth days. The planet is named after Venus, the Roman goddess of love and beauty. After the Moon, it is the brightest natural object in the night sky, reaching an apparent magnitude of −4.6, bright enough to cast shadows...
, and Saturn
Saturn
Saturn is the sixth planet from the Sun and the second largest planet in the Solar System, after Jupiter. Saturn is named after the Roman god Saturn, equated to the Greek Cronus , the Babylonian Ninurta and the Hindu Shani. Saturn's astronomical symbol represents the Roman god's sickle.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
Solar calendar
A solar calendar is a calendar whose dates indicate the position of the earth on its revolution around the sun .-Tropical solar calendars:...
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 SiddhantaSurya Siddhanta
The Surya Siddhanta is one of the earliest siddhanta in archeo-astronomy of the Hindus by an unknown author. It describes the archeo-astronomy theories, principles and methods of the ancient Hindus. This siddhanta is supposed to be the knowledge that the Sun god gave to an Asura called Maya. Asuras...
, which Varahamihira
Varahamihira
Varāhamihira , also called Varaha or Mihira, was an Indian astronomer, mathematician, and astrologer who lived in Ujjain...
r (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
Chinese calendar
The Chinese calendar is a lunisolar calendar, incorporating elements of a lunar calendar with those of a solar calendar. It is not exclusive to China, but followed by many other Asian cultures as well...
.
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 TamilTamil people
Tamil people , also called Tamils or Tamilians, are an ethnic group native to Tamil Nadu, India and the north-eastern region of Sri Lanka. Historic and post 15th century emigrant communities are also found across the world, notably Malaysia, Singapore, Mauritius, South Africa, Australia, Canada,...
Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
s. 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 Chaitra Chaitra is a month of the Hindu calendar.... (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 Meenakshi Minakshi is an Avatar of the Hindu Goddess Parvati - and consort of Shiva - who is worshipped mainly by South Indians. She is also one of the few Hindu female deities to have a major temple devoted to her - the far famed Meenakshi Amman Temple in Madurai, Tamil Nadu... Amman temple. |
| வைகாசி - Vaikaasi Vaisakhi Vaisakhi is an ancient harvest festival celebrated across North Indian states, especially Punjab by all Punjabis regardless of religion. In Sikhism the Khalsa was founded on same day as the Vaisakhi festival, so Sikhs celebrate twice as much.... (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 Aashaadha Aashaadha is a month of the Hindu calendar. In India's national civil calendar, Aashaadh is the fourth month of the year, beginning on 22 June and ending on 22 July. The month is known as Aadi in Tamil... (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 Amavasya Amavasya is the Indian name for a New moon. The word Amavasya is common to many Indian languages especially Sanskrit, Hindi, Assamese, Kannada, Bengali, Konkani, Marathi, Oriya, Telugu, and Gujarati... . Aadi Pooram Pooram Pooram is an annual temple festival held in central Kerala after the summer harvest. Most pooram festivals have at least one ornately decorated elephant being paraded in the procession taken out of the temple precincts... 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 Shraavana Shraavana is a month of the Hindu calendar, also known as Sawan. In India's national civil calendar, Shraavan is the fifth month of the Hindu year, beginning in late July and ending in the third week of August. In the Tamil calendar, it is known as Aavani and is the fifth month of the solar year... (August) |
15 August - 15 September | An important month with many rituals. Brahmin Brahmin Brahmin Brahman, Brahma and Brahmin.Brahman, Brahmin and Brahma have different meanings. Brahman refers to the Supreme Self... s change their sacred thread on Aavani Shraavana Shraavana is a month of the Hindu calendar, also known as Sawan. In India's national civil calendar, Shraavan is the fifth month of the Hindu year, beginning in late July and ending in the third week of August. In the Tamil calendar, it is known as Aavani and is the fifth month of the solar year... Avittam. Each Sunday of the month is dedicated to prayers - Aavani Gnayiru. |
| புரட்டாசி - Purattaasi(September) | 15 September - 15 October | An important month for Vaishnavas Iyengar Iyengar or Ayyangar is a caste given to Hindu Brahmins of Tamil origin who follow the Visishtadvaita philosophy propounded by Sri Ramanujacharya. They are found mostly in Tamil Nadu as they are generally native to the Tamil Nadu state of the Republic of India... . Purattaasi Sani(Saturday) is an auspicious day for Lord Vishnu Vishnu Vishnu is the Supreme god in the Vaishnavite tradition of Hinduism. Smarta followers of Adi Shankara, among others, venerate Vishnu as one of the five primary forms of God.... . |
| ஐப்பசி - Aippasi(October) | 15 October - 14 November | The monsoon Monsoon Monsoon is traditionally defined as a seasonal reversing wind accompanied by corresponding changes in precipitation, but is now used to describe seasonal changes in atmospheric circulation and precipitation associated with the asymmetric heating of land and sea... s 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 Shiva Shiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a... devotees is Thirukaarthigai. The Krithikaa Krittika The star cluster ', sometimes known as Kārtikā, corresponds to the open star cluster Pleiades in Indian astronomy and... Pournami Full moon Full moon lunar phase that occurs when the Moon is on the opposite side of the Earth from the Sun. More precisely, a full moon occurs when the geocentric apparent longitudes of the Sun and Moon differ by 180 degrees; the Moon is then in opposition with the Sun.Lunar eclipses can only occur at... is the special day of the full moon in the month of Kaarthikai, and the star is Krithikaa Krittika The star cluster ', sometimes known as Kārtikā, corresponds to the open star cluster Pleiades in Indian astronomy and... . 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 Tamil language Tamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has official status in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and in the Indian union territory of Pondicherry. Tamil is also an official language of Sri Lanka and Singapore... ) is the most auspicious day in this month. This is also a very popular festival in Kerala Kerala or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions.... , where it is called Thiruvaadira. The offering made to Lord siva Shiva Shiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a... is the Thiruvaadira Kali. Mukkodi Ekathesi is called "Sorgavasal Thirappu" for Lord Vishnu. The Tiruvembaavai fast takes place in this month. |
| தை - Thai Pausha Pausha is a month of the Hindu calendar In the Indian national calendar, Pausha is the tenth month of the year, beginning with the solstice on 22 December and ending on 20 January.... (January) |
15 January - 14 February | Pongal Pongal Thai Ponggal is a harvest festival celebrated by Tamils in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, Indian Union Territory of Pondicherry and in Sri Lanka. Pongal coincides with the festival Makara Sankranthi celebrated throughout India. Pongal in Tamil means "boiling over" or "spill over". The boiling... , which is the harvest festival, is celebrated on the first day of this month. Thai Friday is a popular day among Telugu Telugu language Telugu is a Central Dravidian language primarily spoken in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India, where it is an official language. It is also spoken in the neighbouring states of Chattisgarh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Orissa and Tamil Nadu... speaking peoples settled in Tamil Nadu. Thaipusam Thaipusam Thaipusam is a Hindu festival celebrated mostly by the Tamil community on the full moon in the Tamil month of Thai . It is celebrated not only in countries where the Tamil community constitutes a majority, but also in countries where Tamil communities are smaller, such as Singapore and Malaysia... is also a special day for Murugan devotees, who carry Kavadis to one of the Aarupadaiveedu (Literally meaning "six abodes"). |
| மாசி - Maasi Maagha Maagha is a month of the Hindu calendar. In India's national civil calendar, Maagh is the eleventh month of the year, beginning in January and ending in February.... (February) |
15 February - 14 March | Maasi Magam Maagha Maagha is a month of the Hindu calendar. In India's national civil calendar, Maagh is the eleventh month of the year, beginning in January and ending in February.... 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 NaduTamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
are based on it. Some of Festivals include Tamil New Year or Puthandu
Puthandu
Puthandu , or better known as Tamil New Year, is the celebration of the first day of the Tamil new year in mid-April by Tamils in Tamil Nadu, in Pondicherry in India, in Sri Lanka and by the Tamil population in Malaysia, Singapore, Reunion Island and Mauritius. People in the world greet each other...
in mid-April, Thai Pongal, Deepavali, Panguni Uthiram, Thirukaarthigai, Aadiperukku, Navaratri etc.
External links
- Tamil Calendar 2012 @ tamildailycalendar.in
- http://www.probharat.com/indian-calendars/tamil-calendar.php @ Tamil Calendar for all past and future years (தமிழ் நாள்காட்டி)