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, Myanmar 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,India.[4]
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, the Tamil year starts on 14 April, Kaliyuga . 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.
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 | |
| புதன்கிழமை | Budhan-kiḻamai | Budha-vāsara | Mercury | Wednesday | |
| வியாழக்கிழமை | Vyaḻa-kiḻamai | Guru-vāsara | Jupiter | Thursday | |
| வெள்ளிக்கிழமை | Velli-kiḻamai | Śukra-vāsara | Venus | Friday | |
| சனிக்கிழமை | Sani-kiḻamai | Śani-vāsara | Saturn | Saturday |
The number of days in a month varies between 29 and 32. These are the months of the Tamil Calendar.
| Tamil | Transliteration | Sanskrit | Gregorian Calendar equivalent | Number of days | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| சித்திரை | Chittirai | Caitrā | mid-April to mid-May | 30 - 31 days | |
| வைகாசி | Vaikāsi | Vaisākha | mid-May to mid-June | 31 - 32 days | |
| ஆனி | Āni | Jyeṣṭha | mid-June to mid-July | 31 - 32 days | |
| ஆடி | Ādi | Āshāḍha | mid-July to mid-August | 31 - 32 days | |
| ஆவணி | Āvaṇi | Shrāvaṇa | mid-August to mid-September | 31 - 32 days | |
| புரட்டாசி | Puraṭṭāsi | Bhādrapada/Prauṣṭhapada | mid-September to mid-October | 30 - 31 days | |
| ஐப்பசி | Aippasi | Aśvīna | mid-October to mid-November | 29 - 30 days | |
| கார்த்திகை | Kārtikai | Kārttika | mid-November to mid-December | 30 - 31 days | |
| மார்கழி | Mārgaḻi | Mārgaṣīrṣa | mid-December to mid-January | 29 - 30 days | |
| தை | Tai | Pauṣa/Taiṣya | mid-January to mid-February | 29 - 30 days | |
| மாசி | Māsi | Māgha | mid-February to mid-March | 30 - 31 days | |
| பங்குனி | Panguni | Phālguṇa | mid-March to mid-April | 30 - 31 days |
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]
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| இளவேனில் | Ila-venil | Light warmth | Vasanta | Spring | Chittirai, Vaikāsi | Mid Apr – Mid Jun |
| முதுவேனில் | Mudhu-venil | Harsh warmth | Grishma | Summer | Āni, Ādi | Mid Jun – Mid Aug |
| கார் | Kār | Dark clouds/Rain | Varsha | Monsoon | Āvaṇi, Puraṭṭāsi | Mid Aug – Mid Oct |
| குளிர் | Kulir | Chill/Cold | Sharada | Autumn | Aippasi, Kārtikai | Mid Oct – Mid Dec |
| முன்பனி | Mun-pani | Early mist/Dew | Hemanta | Winter | Mārgaḻi, Tai | Mid Dec – Mid Feb |
| பின்பனி | Pin-pani | Late mist/Dew | Sishira | Prevernal | Māsi, Panguni | Mid Feb – Mid Apr |
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 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 |
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. |
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: