Malayalam calendar
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Malayalam calendar (also known as Malayalam Era or Kollavarsham) is a solar Sidereal calendar used in the state of Kerala in South India. The Era started in the year 825 AD.
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[edit] Origin
Almost all of the regions in Kerala used Kali abda before the acceptance of Kollavarsham.[1][2]
The start of the Malayalam Era has been attributed to many origins. The popular notion[3][4] according to Hermann Gundert, is that it coordinated with consecration of a Shiva temple during the reign of Udaya Marthanda Varma. According to K Sivasankaran Nair, an amateur historian [5], the era was started by Nestorian Christian merchants who settled in KorukeNi kollam, near present day Kollam[6]. Another theory is that Kollavarsham was started by the disciples of Sankaracharya in 825 AD.[7]
The first mention of this era in any official document is in the Mampalli plates given by SriVallabhan Kotha in the year 973 AD (149 ME).
[edit] Calendar system
The Malayalam year starts on Chingam 1 (mid August). This is unlike the start of the Malayalam zodiac, which coincides with the Hindu calendar, and starts on the day of the vernal equinox. The latter is celebrated as Vishu during the month of Medam (meṣa).
[edit] Months of Malayalam Calendar
The following are the months of the Malayalam calendar:
| Months in Malayalam Era | In Malayalam | Gregorian Calendar | Tamil calendar | Saka era | Hijra Era |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chingam | ചിങ്ങം | August- September | Aavani-Purattasi | Sravan- Bhadrapada | Rajab - Sha`ban |
| Kanni | കന്നി | September-October | Purattasi-Aippasi | Bhadrapada - Asvina | Sha`ban - Ramadan |
| Thulam | തുലാം | October-November | Aippasi - Karthigai | Asvina - Kartika | Ramadan - Shawwal |
| Vrishchikam | വൃശ്ചികം | November-December | Karthigai - Margazhi | Kartika - Agrahayana | Shawwal - Dhu l-Qa`da |
| Dhanu | ധനു | December-January | Margazhi - Thai | Agrahayana - Pausa | Dhu l-Qa`da - Dhu l-Hijja |
| Makaram | മകരം | January-February | Thai - Maasi | Pausa - Magha | Dhu l-Hijja - Muharram |
| Kumbham | കുംഭം | February-March | Maasi - Panguni | Magha - Phalguna | Muharram - Safar |
| Meenam | മീനം | March-April | Panguni - Chithtrai | Phalguna - Chaitra | Safar - Rabi`al-Awwal |
| Medam | മേടം | April-May | Chithtrai - Vaikasi | Chaitra - Vaisakha | Rabi`al-Awwal - Rabi`ath-Thani |
| Edavam | ഇടവം | May-June | Vaikasi- Aani | Vaisakha - Jyaistha | Rabi`ath-Thani - Jumada l-Ula |
| Midhunam | മിഥുനം | June-July | Aani - Aadi | Jyaistha - Asada | Jumada l-Ula - Jumada t-Tania |
| Karkidakam | കര്ക്കടകം | July-August | Aadi - Aavani | Asada - Sravana | Jumada t-Tania - Rajab |
[edit] Weeks
Weekdays in the Malayalam calendar are suffixed with Azhcha(Week). Sunday would be njAyaRAzhcha, Monday thinkaLAzhcha and so on.
| Weekday in Malayalam | മലയാളം | English |
|---|---|---|
| njayar | ഞായര് | Sunday |
| thinkal | തിങ്കള് | Monday |
| chouwa | ചൊവ്വ | Tuesday |
| budhan | ബുധന് | Wednesday |
| vyazham | വ്യാഴം | Thursday |
| velli | വെള്ളി | Friday |
| Shani | ശനി | Saturday |
Like the months above, there are twenty seven stars starting from Aswathi (Ashvinī in Sanskrit) and ending in Revathi. The 365 days of the year are divided into groups of fourteen days called Njattuvela, each one bearing the name of a star.
[edit] Derived names
Many events in Kerala are related to the dates in the Malayalam calendar.
The agricultural activities of Kerala are centred around the seasons. The Southwest monsoon which starts around June 1 is known as Edavappathi, meaning mid- Edavam. The North east monsoon which starts during mid October is called thulavarsham (rain in the month of thulam). The two harvests of paddy are called Kannikkoythu and Makarakkoythu (harvest in the month kanni and makaram) respectively.
The Makaravilakku festival is celebrated in the Ayyappa Temple at Sabarimala on the 1st day of month Makaram. This marks the grand finale of the two-month period to the Sabarimala pilgrimage.
[edit] Notes
- ^ The hindu
- ^ It was 3926 years into the Kali Yuga in 824 AD. In the Travancore State Manual, Ch:XIII,pages 49-50, by Sri.T.K.Velu Pillai according to keralainfoservice
- ^ Kerala government website
- ^ In the Travancore State Manual, Ch:XIII,pages 49-50, by Sri.T.K.Velu Pillai according to keralainfoservice
- ^ The Hindu
- ^ 'K Sivasankaran Nair, vENadinte pariNAmam വേണാടിന്റെ പരിണാമം, DC books, pages 28-29
- ^ Namboothiri Website
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Commonly used Malayalam Calendar with both normal (Julian) calendar, the Malayalam calendar and other details sun rise and set times, holidays etc.
