Tamil calendar

The Tamil calendar is a sidereal Hindu 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, and
Mauritius. Tamil Nadu farmers greatly refer to this. It is used today 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[4]

The calendar follows a 60-year cycle which is also very ancient and is observed by most traditional
calendars of India and China. This is related to 5 revolutions of Jupiter around the Sun and to 60-year orbit
of Nakshatras (stars) as mentioned in Surya Siddhanta.

In the Gregorian Year 2021 the Tamil year starts on 14 April 2021, Kaliyuga 5123. Vikrama and
Shalivahana Saka eras are also used.

There are several references in early Tamil literature to the new year. Nakkirar, Sangam period author of
the Neṭunalvāṭai, wrote in the third century CE that the Sun travels each year from Mesha/Chitterai in mid-
April through 11 successive signs of the zodiac.[5] Kūdalūr Kizhaar in the third century CE refers to Mesha
Raasi/Chitterai i.e. mid-April as the commencement of the year in the Puṟanāṉūṟu.[6][7] The Tolkaapiyam
is the oldest surviving Tamil grammar text that divides the year into six seasons where Chitterai i.e. mid-
April marks the start of the Ilavenil season or Summer.[8] The 5th century Silappadikaaram mentions the 12
Raasis or zodiac signs that correspond to the Tamil months starting with Mesha/Chitterai 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 Chitterai 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.

Contents
Week
Months
Seasons
Sixty-year cycle
Celebrations
Significance
Festivals
See also
References
External links

Week
The days of week (Kizhamai) 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.

Lord or Gregorian Calendar

in Tamil Transliteration In Sanskrit
Planet equivalent

ஞாய க ழைம Nyayitru-

Ravi-vaasara Sun Sunday
kizhamai
த க க ழைம thingat-kizhamai Soma-vaasara Moon Monday

ெச வா க ழைம Chevvai- Mangala-

Mars Tuesday
kizhamai vaasara
bhudhan-
Budan -vaasara Mercury Wednesday
kizhamai
vyazha-kizhamai Guru Vaasara Jupiter Thursday
VeLLi-kizhamai Sukra-vaasara Venus Friday
சனி க ழைம sani-kizhamai Shani-vaasara Saturn Saturday

Months
The number of days in a month varies between 29 and 32. These are the months of the Tamil Calendar.
 In Tamil Transliteration Sanskrit Name * Gregorian Calendar equivalent
ச த ைர Cittirai Chaitra mid-April to mid-May

Vaikāsi Vaisākha mid-May to mid-June

ஆனி Āni Jyaishtha mid-June to mid-July

ஆ Ādi Āshāḍha mid-July to mid-August

ஆவணி Āvaṇi Shrāvaṇa mid-August to mid-September

Puraṭṭāsi Bhādrapada/Prauṣṭhapada mid-September to mid-October

ஐ பச Aippasi Ashwina/Ashvayuja mid-October to mid-November

கா த ைக Kārttikai Kārttika mid-November to mid-December

மா கழி Mārkazhi Mārgaṣīrṣa mid-December to mid-January

ைத Tai Pausha/Taiṣya mid-January to mid-February

மாச Māsi Māgha mid-February to mid-March

ப னி Paṅkuni Phalguna mid-March to mid-April

Note: 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]

Seasons
The Tamil year, in keeping with the old Indic calendar, is divided into six seasons, each of which lasts two
months:

Season in English Season in Season in Tamil Gregorian

Transliteration
Tamil Translation Sanskrit English Months Months

இளேவனி chithirai, Mid Apr –

ila-venil Light warmth Vasanta Spring
vaigāsi Mid Jun

ேவனி Mid Jun –

mutu-venil Harsh warmth Grishma Summer āni, ādi
Mid Aug

கா Dark clouds, āvani, Mid Aug –

kaar Varsha Monsoon
Rain puratāci Mid Oct

ளி aippasi, Mid Oct –

kulir Chill / Cold Sharada Autumn
kārthigai Mid Dec

பனி Early mist / mārkazhi, Mid Dec –

mun-pani Hemanta Winter
dew tai Mid Feb
Late mist / māsi, Mid Feb –
ப pin-pani Sishira Prevernal
dew panguni Mid Apr

Sixty-year cycle
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 a new 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
Viyazhan/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]
 Name Gregorian Name Gregorian
No. Name No. Name
(English) Year (English) Year

01. பவ Prabhava 1987–1988 31. ேஹவ ள ப Hevilambi 2017–2018

02. பவ Vibhava 1988–1989 32. Vilambi 2018–2019

03. ல Sukla 1989–1990 33. Vikari 2019–2020

04. Pramodoota 1990–1991 34. சா வரி Sarvari 2020–2021

05. ப Prachorpaththi 1991–1992 35. வ Plava 2021–2022

06. ஆ ரச Aangirasa 1992–1993 36. பக Subakrith 2022–2023

07. க Srimukha 1993–1994 37. ேசாப Sobakrith 2023–2024

08. பவ Bhava 1994–1995 38. ேராத Krodhi 2024–2025

09. வ Yuva 1995–1996 39. வ Visuvaasuva 2025–2026

10. தா Dhaatu 1996–1997 40. பரபாவ Parabhaava 2026–2027

11. ஈ வர Eesvara 1997–1998 41. வ Plavanga 2027–2028

12. Vehudhanya 1998–1999 42. லக Keelaka 2028–2029

13. Pramathi 1999–2000 43. ெசௗ ய Saumya 2029–2030

14. Vikrama 2000–2001 44. சாதாரண Sadharana 2030–2031

15. Vishu 2001–2002 45. Virodhikrithu 2031–2032

16. ச த ரபா Chitrabaanu 2002–2003 46. பரிதாப Paridhaabi 2032–2033

17. பா Subhaanu 2003–2004 47. Pramaadheesa 2033–2034

18. தாரண Dhaarana 2004–2005 48. ஆன த Aanandha 2034–2035

19. ப Paarthiba 2005–2006 49. ரா சச Rakshasa 2035–2036

20. Viya 2006–2007 50. நள Nala 2036–2037

21. ச வஜி Sarvajith 2007–2008 51. Pingala 2037–2038

22. ச வதாரி Sarvadhaari 2008–2009 52. காள த Kalayukthi 2038–2039

23. Virodhi 2009–2010 53. ச தா த Siddharthi 2039–2040

24. Vikruthi 2010–2011 54. ெரௗ த ரி Raudhri 2040–2041

25. கர Kara 2011–2012 55. மத Dunmathi 2041–2042

26. ந தன Nandhana 2012–2013 56. ப Dhundubhi 2042–2043

27. Vijaya 2013–2014 57. ேரா காரி Rudhrodhgaari 2043–2044

28. ஜய Jaya 2014–2015 58. ர தா ச Raktaakshi 2044–2045

29. ம மத Manmatha 2015–2016 59. ேராதன Krodhana 2045–2046

30. க Dhunmuki 2016–2017 60. அ சய 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.
Tamil months start and end based on the Sun's shift from one Rasi to the other but the names of the months
are based on the star on the start of Pournami in that month. The name of the month is some times the name
of the star itself. (e.g. Chithrai is always the star on the Pournami of the Chithirai 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]
 Approx
Month Notes
Dates

ச த ைர – Star on the Pournami: Chithirai. Chitra Pournami & Varusha pirappu are the most
14 April –
important festivals in this month. Famous Chithirai Thiruvizha is celebrated in
Chithirai 13 May
Madurai Meenakshi Amman temple. 14 April is the Tamil New Year.
Star on the Pournami: Visaagam. Vaikaasi Visaakam is the most important day in
– 14 May – this month.This month is most favorable month of Lord Subramainya (Murga
Vaikaasi 14 June Kadavul). Thirumangalam[Madurai] Shri Pathrakali Mariamman Temple 13day
Vaigasi Festival starts at Sunday followed by vaigasi ammavasai[new moon day].

ஆனி – Aani 15 June – Star on the Pournami: Anusham. Aani Thirumanjanam or Aani Uttaram for Lord
15 July Nataraja is the most famous day in this month.
Star on the Pournami: Pooraadam (or) Uthiraadam. A most important month for
women. The most auspicious days are Fridays and Tuesdays in this month, these
ஆ – Aadi 16 July – are called Aadi Velli and Aadi Chevvai and the Aadi Amavasya. Aadi Pooram is
16 August 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
Star on the Pournami: Thiruvonam. An important month with many rituals.
17 August
ஆவணி – Brahmins change their sacred thread on Aavani Avittam. Each Sunday of the
– 16
Aavani month is dedicated to prayers – Aavani Gnayiru.vinayaka chaturthi ,the festival of
September
lord ganesha is held in this month
17 Star on the Pournami: Poorattathi (or) Uthirattathi. An important month for
– September Vaishnavas. Purattaasi Sani(Saturday) is an auspicious day for Lord Vishnu.
Purattaasi – 16 Navarathri & Vijayadhashami or Ayuda Pooja is celebrated to invoke Goddess
October Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswathi.
Star on the Pournami: Ashwini. The monsoons typically start over Tamil Nadu in
this month. Hence the saying, "Aippasi Mazhai, adai mazhai" – meaning "Aippasi
rains are persistent rains".
17
ஐ பச – October – Also Annaabishekam for Lord Shiva is very famous in this month.
Aippasi 15
The most famous Hindu festival "Deepavali" is celebrated in this
November
month. The Fridays of this month – Aipassi velli – are dedicated to
religious observance.

Star on the Pournami: Karthikai. 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.
16
கா த ைக November
– Karthikai – 15 Each Monday of this month is dedicated to the worship of Lord
December Shiva. Every Monday is called "Somavaaram" when 108 or 1008
sangabhishekam are offered to Lord Shiva and Lord Muruga.

Star on the Pournami: Mrigasheersham. This is another special month in the Tamil
Calendar. Temples open earlier in the mornings and Devotees throng the temples
16 early for puja and prasadam – the offering made to the deity which is later
மா கழி – December distributed to the devotees. Arudra Darisanam (Thiruvaadirai star in Tamil) is the
Maargazhi – 13 most auspicious day in this month. The offering made to Lord Siva is the
January Thiruvaadirai Kali – a sweet boiled pudding. Mukkodi Ekathesi is called
"Paramapadha vaasal Thirappu" for Lord Vishnu. The Tiruvembaavai and
Thirupaavai fast takes place in this month.
14 Star on the Pournami: Poosam. Pongal, which is the Tamil harvest festival, is
ைத – Thai January – celebrated on the first day of this month. Thaipusam is also a special day for
12 Murugan devotees, who carry Kavadi to one of the Aarupadaiveedu (Literally
February meaning "six abodes").
மாச – 13 Star on the Pournami: Magam. Maasi Magam is the special day of which comes in
Maasi February – this Month. Shivaratri is an important festival widely celebrated by Hindus in this
 13 March month.

ப னி – 14 March Star on the Pournami: Uththiram. Panguni Uthiram, the last month of the year, is a
Panguni – 13 April famous festival and special to Murugan and Siva devotees.

Significance
The Hindus developed a system of calendrics that encapsulates vast periods of time.[22] 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[23]
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 a busy month for most people including priests as there will be
major temple festivities throughout the month, so most weddings do not often fall in this
month. Aadi is 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. Aadi 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 is portrayed as an inauspicious month for union of newlyweds because conceiving in
this month might often result in child delivery around April–May, the hottest months in Tamil
Nadu (Agni natchathiram – ['pinezhu'] the last 7 days of Chithirai and ['munezhu'] the first 7
days of Vaigasi). 'Aadi' is also the windiest month in Tamil Nadu, and hence the phrase 'Aadi
kaatru ammiyai nagatrum' (literally, 'the strong winds in the month of Aadi can even move a
stone grinder')
Purattaasi is when most of the non-vegetarian Tamil people fast from meat for a month. 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 Aipasi. The month of
Aipasi is usually characterised by the North-East Monsoon in Tamil Nadu, which has given
birth to a phrase, Aipasi adai mazhai meaning the "Non-stop downpour".
Maargazhi falls in winter in Tamil Nadu, and is an auspicious month. The month is
considered sacred. During the holy month of Maargazhi, houses are decorated with colorful
and elaborate kolams. These are drawn on the threshold to welcome guests and divine
beings to bless their houses with prosperity and happiness. The Shaivite fast of Thiru-
vembaavai and the Vaishnava fast of Thiru-paavai are also observed in this month.
The total number of days in a Tamil Calendar is an average 365 days. The Vakiya
Panchangam is employed for both sacred and civil calculations. The Trikanitha
Panchangam is employed for astrological calculations.

Festivals
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
 Tamil New Year (also called Puthandu) in mid-April,
Thai Pongal,
Deepavali,
Panguni Uthiram,
Thirukaarthigai,
Aadiperukku,
Navaratri

One day was even dedicated to a celebration of the Tamil alphabet and was called "ezhuthu naal'.

See also
Chandravakyas
Malayalam calendar
Pambu Panchangam
Puthandu
Samvatsara
Sexagenary cycle

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. S.K. Chatterjee, Indian Calendric System, Publications Division, Ministry of Information and
Broadcasting, Government of India, 1998.
5. JV Chelliah: Pattupattu: Ten Tamil Idylls. Tamil Verses with English Translation. Thanjavur:
Tamil University, 1985 -Lines 160 to 162 of the Neṭunalvāṭai.
6. 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
7. Professor Vaiyapuri Pillai, 'History of Tamil Language and Literature' Chennai, 1956, pp. 35,
151
8. Tolkappiyam Porulatikaram, Peraciriyam. Ed. by R.P.C Pavanantam Pillai. 2 Vols,
Longmans,Creen and Co, Madras/Bombay/Calcutta. 1917
9. 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
10. Lakshmi Holmstrom, Silappadikaram, Manimekalai, Orient Longman Ltd, Madras 1996.
11. 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
12. Dershowitz, Nachum and Reingold, Edward M.: Calendrical Calculations. Third edition,
Cambridge University Press (2008).
13. Underhill, Muriel M.: The Hindu Religious Year. Association Press, Kolkata, India (1921).
14. Kielhorn, Franz: Festal Days of the Hindu Lunar Calendar. The Indian Anti- quary XXVI,
177–187 (1897).
15. Samuel Wells Williams, The Middle Kingdom, V 2, Columbia University Press, New York,
2005 pp. 69–70
16. Paul Kekai Manansala, Quests of the Dragon and Bird Clan, 2006, p. 236
17. Terrien de Lacouperie, Western Origin of the Early Chinese Civilization: From 2,300 BC to
20 AD, Asher and Co, London 1894 p. 78
18. George Gheverghese Joseph, Crest of the Peacock: Non-European Roots of Mathematics,
Princeton University Press, 2011, p. 304-305
19. Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami, Vedic calendar: Kadavul Hindu Panchangam,
Himalayan Academy, Kapaa, Hawaii, 1997; pp. 5–6,Glossary p 10
20. Kielhorn, Franz: Festal Days of the Hindu Lunar Calendar. The Indian Anti-quary XXVI,
177–187 (1897).
21. Underhill, Muriel M.: The Hindu Religious Year. Association Press, Kolkata, India (1921).
22. Wijk, Walther E. van: On Hindu Chronology, parts I–V. Acta Orientalia (1922–1927).
23. H.P. Blavatsky, 'The Secret Doctrine: The Synthesis of Science, Religion and Philosophy'
Book 2: pp. 49–51, Theosophical University Press, 1888

External links
Full Tamil Calendar with Panchangam Information (http://tamilcalendarz.com/)
Tamil Calendar with Panchangam Information (http://tamil.indiancalendars.org/)
[1] (http://www.probharat.com/indian-calendars/tamil-calendar.php) @ Tamil Calendar for all
past and future years (தமி நா கா )
Tamil Calendar with Daily Panchangam (http://tamil.panchangam.org/)
Tamil Calendar for each year (https://dheivegam.com/tamil-calendar/)
Tamil Calendar for each year (https://www.astroved.com/articles/tamil-calendar)

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