Hindu-Tamil Calendar

1 Kaala alavu or Measurement of Time

Our ancestors had observed the periodic occurrences of various seasons. Their agricultural society forced
them to try predicting the season cycle. This need forced them to prepare, what is now called, calendar.
However, this task was not very easy.

They began the process by recording the periodic movements in the celestial sky. The sun rises from the
east and sets in the west. A day or pagal is the period between sunrise and sunset and a night or iravu is the
period between sunset and next sunrise. A day and night together makes a naal (usually, in English we refer
this as day). Today we know this is due to the rotation of earth on its axis. Indian mathamatician Arybhatta
has knowledge of this phenomenon of spinning on its axis. Thus, one complete rotation of earth on its axis
makes a naal. Our ancestors measured the rotation of earth on its axis as the duration between successive
sunrises. Seen from the north-pole of the earth, the earth spins on its axis from west to east. This is the
reason behind sun rising in the east and setting in the west.

One naal (complete day) was subdivided in to 60 division, called nazhigai. There was a reason to
choose the 60 subdivision. Recall that we are talking of times when counting was manual. Thus, any
subdivision of a day should facilitate usage of fractions of a day in day-to-day life. This is equivalent to
finding the smallest number which has most of the early natural numbers as factors. For instance, 12 is the
first number which has factors 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 but not 5. Thus, if 12 was chosen as a subdivision of a day one
can talk of 1∕6, 1∕4, 1∕3 or 1∕2 but not 1∕5 fraction of a day. With this idea, 60 is the first number which has 1,
2, 3, 4, 5, 6 has its factors. If, in addition, one demanded the fraction 1∕7 then we would have to go as big as
420. So, for all practical reasons, 60 was good enough and manageable.

Two nazhigai makes one muhurtam. Each nazhigai was, further, subdivided in to 60 parts, called thuli.
Each thuli was, further, subdivided in to 60 parts, called nodi. Each nodi was subdivided in to 60 parts,
called kuzhi or kuRRuzhi. One kuRRuzhi or kuzhi is the time taken by the krithigai natchatiram (Pleiades
stars) to glitter once.

In modern terminology, one day is of 24 hours, thus one nazhigai is of 24 minutes and one muhurtam is
of 48 minutes. Similarly, one thuli is of 24 seconds, one nodi is 0.4 seconds and one kuRRuzhi is 0.04∕6 =
0.00666 seconds. One kannimai, the time taken for normal wink of an eye, is equal to 10 kuRRuzhi. One
aNu is 4 seconds and one kaNam is 4 minutes. One saamam referred to the modern day one hour which was
defined as 2.5 nazhigai. 4 saamam (or 4 hours) constituted one siRupozhuthu and 6 siRupozhuthu made one
complete day. They had names for the siRupozhuthu as follows: Assuming 6 : 00 am sunrise,

S.No. Time Slot Name

1 06:00 - 10:00 kaalai

2 10:00 - 14:00 nanpagal
3 14:00 - 18:00 yerpaadu
4 18:00 - 22:00 maalai
5 22:00 - 02:00 yaamam
6 02:00 - 06:00 vaikarai

1.1 Raasi (Zodaic)

The concept of raasi might be a contribution of Sanskrit culture. I feel so because the names of raasi have
Sanskrit origin and do not have a tamil equivalent. Our ancestors seem to have known that the earth is
spherical in shape. The proof of this is the illustration of earth as a spherical object in Varaha avatar (third)
of lord Vishnu. Our ancestors (who believed in geo-centric theory) divided the celestial sphere containing
stars and planets in to 12 segments, each division is called raasi or zodiac. They observed the motion of
planets against the backdrop of raasis. Today, we know this is the division of the elliptical path of earth
around sun. Each raasi identifies a 30 degrees segment of the celestial sphere. Half-a-siRupozhuthu or 2.5
muhurtam (defined in previous section) is the time taken by earth to spin from one raasi to other. The twelve raasi
are:

No. Raasi Symbol

1 Mesham Ram (Goat)

2 Rishabam Bull
3 Mithunam Woman-Man pair
4 Katakam Crab
5 Simmam Lion
6 Kanni Virgin (in a boat)
7 Thulaam Man holding balance
8 Vrichigam Scorpion
9 Dhanus Man holding Bow
10 Makaram Deer faced Crocodile
11 Kumbham Water Bearer
12 Meenam Two fishes

Note that the raasis have no order (as given above). It is cyclic with no beginning and end. However, later
we shall see that the raasi gets an order once we introduce the concept of new year and first month of a year.
The raasis are spread on the elliptical path within a span of 8-9 degrees (north-south) from the equator of
earth.

1.2 Muhurtam, Nazhigai and Laganam (Spin of Earth)

As mentioned above, in Tamil calendar a complete day starts with sunrise and ends with next day sunrise. Imagine
this as the earth’s 360 degree spin on its axis, which makes a complete day. Imagine dividing the earth’s surface into
60 parts along longitude direction (north-south), with 6 degrees between successive lines. The time taken by earth to
spin 6 degrees is called a nazhigai, a duration of 24 minutes. 2 nazhigais makes a muhurtam, a spin of 12 degrees by
earth on its axis. Thus, a complete day contains 30 muhurtams and each muhurtam is of 48 minutes duration. The
names of the 30 muhurtams, in order in which they occur after sunrise till next sunrise, are as follows (assuming
sunrise is at 0600 am):

S.No. Time Slot Name Effect

1 06:00 - 06:48 Rudra bad

2 06:48 - 07:36 Ahi bad
3 07:36 - 08:24 Mitra good
4 08:24 - 09:12 Pitru bad
5 09:12 - 10:00 Vasu good
6 10:00 - 10:48 Vara good
7 10:48 - 11:36 Visvadeva good
8 11:36 - 12:24 Vidhi good (except monday + friday)
9 12:24 - 13:12 Satamukhi good
10 13:12 - 14:00 Puruhuta bad
11 14:00 - 14:48 Vahini bad
12 14:48 - 15:36 Naktancara bad
13 15:36 - 16:24 Varuna good
14 16:24 - 17:12 Aryama good (except sunday)
15 17:12 - 18:00 Bhaga bad
16 18:00 - 18:48 Girisha bad
17 18:48 - 19:36 Ajapad bad
18 19:36 - 20:24 Ahirbudhnya good
19 20:24 - 21:12 Pusa good
20 21:12 - 22:00 Aswini good
21 22:00 - 22:48 Yama bad
22 22:48 - 23:36 Agni bad
23 23:36 - 24:24 Vidhatr good
24 24:24 - 01:12 Canda good
25 01:12 - 02:00 Aditi good
26 02:00 - 02:48 Jiva good
27 02:48 - 03:36 Visnu good
28 03:36 - 04:24 Yumigadyuti good
29 04:24 - 05:12 Brahma very good
30 05:12 - 06:00 Samudram good

Of the above muhurtams, Brahma muhurtam (29) is the most auspicious and considered good for all
spiritual purposes, especially meditation. It is considered good to have bath in the Brahma muhurtam.
Superstitious? No idea! In fact, all the three sandhi kaalam viz. day meeting night, night meeting day and
mid-day are all considered good for spiritual purposes.

Let us explain the concept of lagnam. The division of lagnam is same as raasi. It is the same twelve
division of a complete day each of duration two hours. However, the definition of lagnam is related to an
individual time and place of birth. This is to differentiate between two persons born on the same day but at
different places (or different longitudinal divisions) or two persons born on same day, same place but at
different time of the day. In modern terms this is to differentiate people born on the same day but at different
time zones. Thus, a person born on same day but in different longitudinal division is born while Earth is
facing different raasi. Thus, lagnam of a person is the raasi faced by the part of the Earth surface on which he
is born. Fix a point on the surface of earth. Note that the point will face all the 12 segments (raasis) of
celestial sky, while the earth spins on its axis. Since the raasis are 30 degree segment, the point will take 2
hours (or 5 nazhigais or 2.5 muhurtam) to move from one raasi to other. A day is divided in to 12 lagnams or
ascendant with each lagnam of two hour duration. A person’s lagnam is the lagnam on which he is born on a
given day of the given place.

1.3 Nakshathiram (Revolution of Moon)

Our ancestors also divided the celestial sphere in to 27 divisions, called nakshathiram, as a means to describe
the motion of moon across the sky. The moon rose in one segment each day taking 27 days to rise again in the same
segment, hence the 27 parts of celestial sphere. A raasi, introduced in previous section, approximately covered the
region of 2.5 nakshathiram. Today, we know that moon takes approximately 27 days to revolve around earth, called
the sidereal month. The 27 nakshathiram are as follows:

No. Nakshathiram Constellation

1 Asvini 3 stars (horse face)

2 Barani or Apa Barani 3 stars (pot)
3 Krithigai or Krittika 6 stars (razor)
4 Rohini 5 stars (chariot)
5 Mrigaseersham or Mrigasira 3 stars (deer head)
6 Thiruvaadhirai or Aarudra 1 star (bead)
7 Punarpoosam or Punarvasu 5 stars (bow)
8 Poosam or Pushya 3 stars (flower)
9 Aayilyam or Aslesha 6 stars (serpent)
10 Magam or Magha 5 stars (palanquin)
11 Pooram or Poorva Palguni 4 stars (leg of cot)
12 Uttaram or Uttara Palguni same as above
13 Hastham or Hastha 5 stars (palm)
14 Chithirai or Chitra 1 star (pearl)
15 Svaathi 1 star (sapphire)
16 Visaakam or Visaka 3 stars (potter wheel)
17 Anusham or Anuradha 3 stars (umbrella)
18 Kettai or Jyesta same as above
19 Moolam or Moola 6 stars (crouching lion)
20 Pooraadam or Poorvashada 4 stars (square)
21 Uttaraadam or Uttarashada same as above
22 Thiruvonam or Sravana 3 stars (arrow)
23 Avittam or Sravishta or Dhanista 4 stars (drum)
24 Sadhayam or Sathabishak 100 stars (flower)
25 Poorataadhi or Poorva Broshtapadha4 stars (leg of cot)
25 Uttarataadhi or Uttara Broshtapadha same as above
27 Revathi 3 stars (fish)

No. Raasi Nakshathiram

1 Mesham Asvini
Barani
Krithigai (1/4)

2 Rishabam Krithigai (3/4)

Rohini
Mrigaseersham (1/2)

3 Mithunam Mrigaseersham (1/2)

Thiruvaadhirai
Punarpoosam (3/4)

4 Katakam Punarpoosam (1/4)

Poosam
Aayilyam
5 Simmam Magam
Pooram
Uttaram (1/4)

6 Kanni Uttaram
Hastham
Chithirai (1/2)

7 Thulaam Chithirai (1/2)

Svaathi
Visaakam (3/4)

8 Vrichigam Visaakam (1/4)

Anusham
Kettai

9 Dhanus Moolam
Pooraadam
Uttaraadam (1/4)

10 Makaram Uttaraadam (3/4)

Thiruvonam
Avittam (1/2)

11 Kumbham Avittam (1/2)

Sadhayam
Poorataadhi (3/4)

12 Meenam Poorataadhi (1/4)

Uttarataadhi
Revathi
A person’s janma nakshathiram or birth star is the nakshathiram on which moon rose (resided) on the day of
his/her birthday. However, a careful note here is that the janma raasi of a person is not defined as the raasi on
which sun rose on his birthday. The janma raasi of a person is the raasi corresponding to the person’s janma
nakshathiram. Thus, note that our birth-raasi is not same as the sun-sign (zodiac).

1.4 Lunar and Solar Month (Revolution of Earth)

A thingal or lunar month (also called synodic month) is the period between two amavaasai(new moon) or
pournami (full moon). The duration of a lunar month is approximately 29.5 days. The Tamil name for month
is thingal and a synonym of Moon is thingal.

A solar month is the duration in which Sun rises with the same raasi as its backdrop. Today, we know that ignoring
the spin of earth on its axis, the earth takes 30 days to shift from one raasi to the other. Thus, we have twelve
months, each month symbolising the shift of earth on its orbit by 30 degrees. The tamil months are as follows,
corresponding to the raasi in which earth (or sun) resides:

S.No. Month number of daysModern duration

1 Cittirai (Mesham) 31 mid-April–mid-May

2 Vaikaci (Rishabam) 31 mid-May–mid-June
3 Aani (Mithunam) 32 mid-June–mid-July
4 Aadi (Katakam) 31 mid-July–mid-Aug
5 Aavani (Simmam) 31 mid-Aug–mid-Sept
6 Purattaci (Kanni) 31 mid-Sept–mid-Oct
7 Aippaci (Thulaam) 30 mid-Oct–mid-Nov
8 Karttikai (Vrichigam) 29 mid-Nov–mid-Dec
9 Markazhi (Dhanus) 30 mid-Dec–mid-Jan
10 Tai (Makaram) 29 mid-Jan–mid-Feb
11 Maci (Kumbham) 30 mid-Feb–mid-Mar
12 Pankuni (Meenam) 30 mid-Mar–mid-April

The name of tamil month is motivated from the nakshathiram on which moon rises on the pournami (full-
moon) day of the tamil month.

The duration for the Sun to return to its rising raasi is one aaNdu or year. The number of days in a aaNdu is,
approximately, 365 and 15 nazhigai, 31 vinaadi and 15 Tharparai where 1440 vinaadi makes one nazhigai
and 60 Tharparai makes one vinaadi. Today, we know this is precisely the duration in which the Earth goes
around Sun once, in its elliptical orbit. This duration is 11 minutes short of 3651 4 days. On some years, we
have an excess day in Aadi or Aavani month to make 366 days in year to compensate the small error in each
year.

The first Tamil month starts in mid-April, the new year day. Why mid-April? The reason is to choose the
month that has the same length of day and night. With modern precision and metric this may seem wrong!
We know today that equal length of day and night happens when the Sun rises exactly in east and sets in
west. Today, we know this happens exactly twice a year, one on March 21 and the other on September 23.
Both these days have equal length of day and night. We also know the reason behind this phenomenon to be
the inclination of the axis of rotation of earth by 23.25 degrees. Thus, in mid-Jul the latitude line 23.25
degrees north of equator, called tropic of Cancer, is where the Sun rises and sets. One ayanam is six months.
As seen from Earth, Mid-July to mid-Jan is called dakshinaayanam, when sunrise is towards south-east. In
mid-Jan the latitude line 23.25 degrees south of equator, called tropic of Capricon, is where the sun rises and
sets. Mid-Jan to mid-July is called uttarayanam, when sunrise direction is towards north-east.
But recall that our ancestors calculated length of day (or night) based on the number of nazhigai. With a total
of 60 nazhigai in one full day, if both day and night had 30 nazhigai’s each then they have the same length.
This happens in the month of Cittirai and Aippaci. Then, why choose Cittirai as the first month? Because the
five months after Cittirai have days longer than night. Day gets the priority! Similarly, the five months after
Aippaci have nights longer than day. There is a tamil poem which describes these aspects. It also gives the
formula (vee-doo-poo-mu-di) to compute the number of nazhigai’s by which a day or night is longer in a
particular month. Thus, it says: the day is longer in the months of Vaikaci, Aani, Aadi, Aavani and Purattaci
by 18, 30, 36, 30 and 18 minutes, respectively; and the night is longer in the months of Karttikai, Markazhi,
Tai, Maci and Pankuni by 18,30,36,30 and 18 minutes, respectively.

1.5 Perum-pozhuthu, aaNdu, Yugam etc.

Recall that our ancestors had divided a complete day into six siRupozhuthu. Similarly, they had divided a year (aaNdu)
into six perum-pozhuthu or seasons. Two thingal (or months) constituted one perum-pozhuthu or season. The six
perum-pozhuthu in a aaNdu are:

No. Season Description Period

1 ila-venil Light warmth (Vasantam) Mid Apr - Mid Jun

2 mudhu-venil Harsh warmth (Grishmam)Mid Jun - Mid Aug
3 kaar Dark clouds (Rain) Mid Aug - Mid Oct
4 kulir Chill, Cold (Sharadam) Mid Oct - Mid Dec
5 mun-pani Early dew (Hemantam) Mid Dec - Mid Feb
6 pin-pani Late dew (Sishiram) Mid Feb - Mid Apr

One vattam or century is made of 60 years. After every sixty years, the years are repeated, as we do in months and
weeks. The 60 years are as follows:

S.No. Year (Sanskrit) Name Tamil Name Period

1 Prabhava Nantrontral 1987–1988

2 Vibhava Uyarthontral 1988-1989
3 Sukla Velouli 1989-1990
4 Pramodoota Peruvagai 1990-1991
5 Prachorpaththi Makkatchelvam 1991-1992
6 Aangirasa Ayalmuni 1992-1993
7 Srimukha Thirumugam 1993-1994
8 Bhava Thotrram 1994-1995
9 Yuva Ilamai 1995-1996
10 Dhaatu Maazhai 1996-1997
11 Eesvara Eechchuram 1997-1998
12 Bahudhanya Kulavalam 1998-1999
13 Pramathi Munmai 1999-2000
14 Vikrama Nerniral 2000-2001
15 Vishu Vilaipayan 2001-2002
16 Chitrabaanu Oviyakathir 2002-2003
17 Subhaanu Narkathir 2003-2004
18 Dhaarana Thaangkezhil 2004-2005
19 Paarthiba Nilvaraiyan 2005-2006
20 Viya Virimaanbu 2006-2007
21 Sarvajith Mutrarivu 2007-2008
22 Sarvadhari Muzhuniraivu 2008-2009
23 Virodhi Theerpagai 2009-2010
24 Vikruthi Valmattram 2010-2011
25 Kara Seinerththi 2011-2012
26 Nandhana Narkuzhavi 2012-2013
27 Vijaya Uyarvaagai 2013-2014
28 Jaya Vaagai 2014-2015
29 Manmatha Kathanmai 2015-2016
30 Dhunmuki Vemmugam 2016-2017
31 Hevilambi Potradai 2017-2018
32 Vilambi Atti 2018-2019
33 Vikari Ezhilmaral 2019-2020
34 Sarvari Veeriyezhal 2020-2021
35 Plava Keezharai 2021-2022
36 Subakrith Narseikai 2022-2023
37 Sobakrith Mangalam 2023-2024
38 Krodhi Pagaikedu 2024-2025
39 Visuvaasuva Ulaganiraivu 2025-2026
40 Parabhaava Aruttotram 2026-2027
41 Plavanga Nachchupuzhai 2027-2028
42 Keelaka Pinaiviragu 2028-2029
43 Saumya Azhagu 2029-2030
44 Sadharana Pothunilai 2030-2031
45 Virodhikrithu Eegalveeru 2031-2032
46 Paridhaabi Kazhivirakkam 2032-2033
47 Pramaadhisa Natralaimai 2033-2034
48 Aanandha Perumagazhchi 2034-2035
49 Rakshasa Perumaram 2035-2036
50 Nala Thaamarai 2036-2037
51 Pingala Ponmai 2037-2038
52 Kalayukthi Karumaiveechchu2038-2039
53 Siddharthi Munniyamudithal 2039-2040
54 Raudhri Azhali 2040-2041
55 Dunmathi Kodumathi 2041-2042
56 Dhundubhi Perikai 2042-2043
57 Rudhrodhgaari Odingi 2043-2044
58 Raktakshi Semmai 2044-2045
59 Krodhana Ethiretram 2045-2046
60 Akshaya Valangkalan 2046-2047

This is the reason for celebrating the 60-th birthday of a person because he is supposed to have lived a
century and moves in to the same year he was born. This is very similar to celebrating centenary birthdays.

The time is divided in to four yugams, viz.

1. Krita/Sathya yugam (17, 28, 000 = 4 × 4, 32, 000 years)

2. Tretha yugam (12, 96, 000 = 3 × 4, 32, 000 years)
3. Dvaapara yugam (8, 64, 000 = 2 × 4, 32, 000 years)
4. Kali yugam (4, 32, 000 years)

The four yugas together comprise one chaturyuga or maha-yuga, which comprises of 4.32 million years
(4,320,000 years). Thousand maha-yugas constitute one “kalpam”, i.e., 4,320,000,000 (4.32 billion years).
One kalpam is one day of Brahma and equal number of years for night, making a complete day of Brahma, a
time period of 8.64 billion years. Manvantaram is one-fourteenth of a kalpam. According to Aryabhata (of
6th century), the kali-yuga started in 23 January, 3102 BCE of Gregorian calendar. This division of yugas is
disputed by Swami Sri Yukteswar Giri in his book The Holy Science.

2 Panchangam

A day was ascribed 5 attributes called panchangam. The word is a combination of words “pancha” meaning
five and “angam” meaning limbs. Thus, a day is determined by five factors, viz.,

1. Tithi (Phase of moon)

2. Nakshathiram (Home of moon)
3. Kizhamai (day of week)
4. Yogam
5. Karnam (2 Karnam is one tithi)

2.1 Tithi

We have already seen that the period between two amavasai (new moon) is 29.5 days (thingal or synodic
month). This period has 15 days of waxing (sukhla paksham) and equal number of waning period (krishna
paksham). These paksham is a Sanskrit name. A 15 day period, in Tamil, is called azhuvam. Thus, the period
is divided in to 14 tithis for both waxing and waning period. The zeroth starts at amavasai, followed by 14
thithis (waxing) and fifteenth being pournami (full moon), followed by the same 14 tithis (waning), followed by
amavaasai again. The names of the tithi are:

S. No. Tithi

0 Amavasya, the new moon day

1 Prathamai
2 Dvithiyai
3 Thrithiyai
4 Chathurthi
5 Panchami
6 Sashti
7 Sapthami
8 Ashtami
9 Navami
10 Dasami
11 Ekaadasi
12 Dvaadasi
13 Thrayodasi
14 Chathurdasi
15 Pournami, the full moon day

After Pournami, the tithis once again go on from 1 to 14 to complete one cycle.

2.2 Nakshathiram

We have already elaborated on what nakshathiram is and have already listed them. The Moon rises each day
on a different nakshtram. Thus, a day is distinguished based on the nakshathiram in which Moon rises that
day.
2.3 Kizhamai

Our ancestors were able to distinguish planets, from stars, by their motion in the celestial sphere. They
identified what they called “nava graha” or nine planets. The first seven of these planets are: Moon, Sun,
Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn. In addition, our ancestors imagined two diametrically opposite points
on the celestial sphere as Raahu and Kethu, respectively. This was to accommodate the occurrence of
eclipses. These imaginary points were the intersection of the orbits of Sun and Moon in the celestial sphere.

They ordered the planets according to their speed in the celestial sphere. We have already seen that the sun
takes approximately 30 days to shift from one raasi to other. We shall see the duration taken by every other
planet to cover one raasi (and all 12 raasis):

1.Moon 2.5 days (30 days)

2.Mercury 30 days (one year)
3.Venus 30 days (one year)
4.Sun 30 days (one year)
5.Mars 45 days (540 days or approx. 1.5 years)
6.Jupiter one year (12 years)
7.Rahu 1.5 years (18 years)
8.Kethu 1.5 years (18 years)
9.Saturn 2.5 years (30 years)

Thus ordering from slowest to fastest, we have: Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, Sun, Venus, Mercury, Moon. The time
between sunrise and sunset is divided by 12 and sunset and next sunrise by 12 to get what is called planetary
hours or horai. Each horai is ruled by the planets in the above order. The concept of a planet dominating (or
ruling) an horai is not comprehensible to me. Suppose the first horai after sunrise of a day is ruled by Saturn,
we call it Saturday. The next horai is then ruled by Jupiter and so on, so that the 12th horai, at sunset, is ruled
by Venus. Continuing this way, we see that the first horai (or 25th horai) on the next day is ruled by Sun,
called Sunday. In this procedure, the next day is Monday. Proceeding this way, we can identify a day as:

1.Saturday (Saturn) Sani

2. Sunday (Sun) Gnayayiru
3. Monday (Moon) Thingal
4. Tuesday (Mars) Sevvai
5. Wednesday (Mercury) Pudhan
6. Thursday (Jupiter) Viyazhan
7. Friday (Venus) Velli

This attribute of a day is called kizhamai or week. The above explanation also justifies the reason behind the
specific order of the days of a week. This, probably, also explains why Friday was holiday being the last day
of the week which, may be, changed after british politically took over the country.

2.4 Yogam

2.5 Karnam

2.6 Raahu Kaalam and Yama Gandam

The Raahu kaalam and Yama gandam is calculated by dividing the duration between sunrise and sunset by 8,
each division called the “octant”. Thus, each octant is approximately of 90 minutes duration (assuming 12
hours between sunrise and sunset). The raahu kaalm is assigned in following order:

II octant Monday
III octant Saturday
IV octant Friday
V octant Wednesday
VI octant Thursday
VII octant Tuesday
VIII octant Sunday