Tamil units of measurement
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The Tamil units of measurement are a system of measurements that was traditionally used in ancient Tamil-speaking parts of South India.
These ancient measurement systems spanned systems of counting, distances, volumes, time, weight as well as tools used to do so. While modern India uses the metric system, some of these older measurement systems, especially those of counting, are still used today.
Other units that have persisted are those of area – the ma (not to be confused with the dollar-cent) and the ‘ground’, both used to measure land and the molam which has been relegated to measuring the length of a sandanam garland sold on streets.
There are several similarities between the measurement system used in Tamil Nadu and that used by the Indus Valley civilisation. Excavation studies from Keeḻadi reveal existence of an older non-vedic civilisation in Tamil Nadu,[1] and suggest possibilities of ancient Indian mathematicians in Tamil Nadu.[2][clarification needed]
Units of time
[edit]| Unit | Divisions | Equivalent | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 குழிகள் (kuḻigaḷ) | none | 62⁄3 milliseconds | |
| 1 கண்ணிமைகள் (kaṇṇimaigaḷ) | none | 62.5 milliseconds | |
| 1 மிய் (miy) | 10 குழிகள் (kuḻigaḷ) | 662⁄3 milliseconds | The time taken by the young human eyes to blink once |
| 1 கைநொடி (kainoḍi) | 2 கண்ணிமைகள் (kaṇṇimaigaḷ) | 0.125 seconds | |
| 1 மாத்திரை (māttirai) | 2 கைநொடி (kainoḍi) | 0.25 seconds | |
| 1 சிற்றுழி (நொடி) (ciṟṟuḻi (noḍi)) | 6 மிய்கள் (miygaḷ) | 0.4 seconds | The time taken for a bubble[a] to travel a distance of 1 சாண் (cāṇ) |
| 1 குறு (kuṟu) | 2 மாத்திரைகள் (māttiraigaḷ) | 0.5 seconds | |
| 1 வினாடி (viṉāḍi) | 2 நொடிகள் (noḍigaḷ) | 0.8 seconds | The time taken by the adult human heart to beat once |
| 1 உயிர் (uyir) | 2 குறு (kuṟu) | 1 second | |
| 1 சாணிகம் (cāṇigam) | 2 உயிர் (uyir) | 2 seconds | |
| 1 அணு (aṇu) | 2 சாணிகம் (cāṇigam) | 4 seconds | |
| 1 துளி (tuḷi) | 6 அணுக்கள் (aṇukkaḷ) | 24 seconds | |
| 1 நாழிகை வினாடி (nāḻigai-viṉāḍi) | |||
| 1 கணம் (kaṇam) | 10 துளிகள் (tuḷigaḷ) | 4 minutes | |
| 1 நாழிகை (nāḻigai) | 6 கணங்கள் (kaṇangaḷ) | 24 minutes | |
| 1 சாமம் (cāmam) | 15 கணம் (kaṇam) | 1 hour | |
| 1 சிறுபொழுது (ciṟupoḻutu) | 4 சாமம் (cāmam) | 4 hours | |
| 1 நாள் (nāḷ) | 6 சிறுபொழுதுகள் (ciṟu-poḻutugaḷ) | 1 day | |
| 1 வாரம் (vāram) | 7 நாட்கள் (nāṭkaḷ) | 1 week | |
| 1 அழுவம் (aḻuvaluvamam) | 15 நாட்கள் (nāṭkaḷ) | 15 days | |
| 1 திங்கள் (tingaḷ) | none | 1 lunar month | |
| 1 பெரும்பொழுது (perum-poḻutu) | 2 திங்கள் (tingaḷ) | 2 lunar months | |
| 1 ஆண்டு (āṇdu) | 6 பெரும்பொழுது (perum-poḻutu) | 1 year | |
| 1 வட்டம் (vaṭṭam) | 64 ஆண்டுகள் (āṇdukaḷ) | 64 years | 1 cycle |
| 1 ஊழி (ōḻi) | 64 வட்டம் (vaṭṭam) | 4,096 years | 1 epoch |
Notes
[edit]Units of area
[edit]| Unit | Divisions | Equivalent | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 தாக்கு (thakku) | none | 7.56 square feet | |
| 1 sq கஜம் (kajam) | 5⁄242 of a cent | ||
| 1 வீசம் (vīsam) | 36 square feet | ||
| 1 குழி (kuḻi) | 4 வீசம் (vīsam) | 144 square feet | |
| 1 perch | none | 0.625 cents | In Jaffna, Sri Lanka |
| 1 lacham | 12 kulies[contradictory] | 4+1⁄6 cents | In Paddy Culture[clarification needed] |
| 1 parappu | 10 perches | 6.25 cents | In Jaffna, Sri Lanka |
| 1 lacham | 18 kulies[contradictory] | In Varaku Culture[clarification needed] | |
| 1 மரக்கால் விதைப்பது (marakkaḷ vitaippatu) | none | 8 cents | area required for planting rice |
| 1 குறுணி (kuṟuṇi) | |||
| 1 பதக்கு (patakku) | 2 மரக்கால் விதைப்பது (marakkaḷ vitaippatu) or 2 குறுணி (kuṟuṇi) | 16 cents | |
| 1 முக்குறுணி (mukkuṟuṇi) | 3 மரக்கால் விதைப்பது (marakkaḷ vitaippatu) or 3 குறுணி (kuṟuṇi) | 24 cents | |
| 1 மா (mā) | 100 குழி (kuḻi) | 1,600 square yards | |
| 1 காணி (kāṇi) | 4 மா (mā) | 6,400 square yards | |
| 1 வேலி (vēļi) | 5 காணி (kāṇi) | 32,000 square yards | |
| none | 16 parappu | 1 acre | In Jaffna, Sri Lanka |
| 16 lachams | In Varaku Culture[clarification needed] | ||
| 24 lachams | In Paddy Culture[clarification needed] |
Units of ancient trade
[edit]Balance weights
[edit]![[icon]](/wiki/File:Wiki_letter_w_cropped.svg){kind=small} | This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (June 2025) |
| Unit | Divisions | Equivalent | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 நல் எடை (nel eḍai) | none | ||
| 1 குன்றிமணி (kuṉṟimaṇi) | 4 நல் எடை (nel eḍai) | ||
| 1 மஞ்சாடி (māñcāḍi) | 2 குன்றிமணி (kuṉṟimaṇi) | ||
| 1 பணவெடை (paṇaveḍai) | |||
| 1 கழஞ்சு (kaḻañcu) | 5 பணவெடை (paṇaveḍai) | ||
| 1 வராகனெடை (varāgaṉeḍai) | 8 பணவெடை (paṇaveḍai) | ||
| 1 கஃசு (kaqhsu) | 4 கழஞ்சு (kaḻañcu) | ||
| 1 பலம் | 4 கஃசு (kaqhsu) |
| Unit | Divisions | Equivalent | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 varāgaṉeḍai | 32 kuṉṟimaṇi | ||
| 1 palam | 10 varāgaṉeḍai | ||
| 1 veesai | 40 palam | ||
| 1 tulām | 6 veesai | ||
| 1 maṇangu | 8 veesai | ||
| 1 kā | 25 veesai | ||
| 1 pāram | 20 maṇangu |
Grain volume
[edit]- 1 kuṇam = smallest unit of volume
- 9 kuṇam = 1 mummi
- 11 mummi = 1 aṇu
- 7 aṇu = 1 immi
- 7 immi = 1 uminel
- 1 sittigai = 7 uminel
- 360 nel = 1 sevidu
- 5 sevidu = 1 āḻākku
- 2 āḻākku = 1 uḻakku
- 2 uḻakku = 1 uri
- 2 uri = 1 padi
- 8 padi = 1 marakkaal (kuṟuṇi)
- 2 marakkāl (kuṟuṇi) = 1 padakku
- 2 padakku = 1 tōṇi
- 3 tōṇi = 1 kalam (= 96 padi)
- 5 marakkāl = 1 paṟai
- 80 paṟai = 1 karisai
- 96 padi = 1 pothi (mōdai)
- 21 marakkal = 1 Kottai
- 22 mākāni = 100 g
1 padi = 1800 avarai pods = 12,800 miḷagu seeds = 14,400 nel grains = 14,800 payaṟu grains = 38,000 arisi grains = 115,200 sesame ellu seeds
Fluid volume
[edit]- 5 sevidu = 1 āḻākku
- 2 mahani = 1 āḻākku (arai kal padi)
- 2 āḻākku = 1 uḻakku (Kal padi)
- 2 uḻakku = 1 uri (Arai padi)
- 2 uri = 1 padi
- 4 padi= 1 marakkaal
- 2 marakkāl (kuṟuṇi) = 1 padakku
- 2 padakku = 1 tōṇi
- 21 Marakkal = 1 Kottai
Length
[edit]- 1 Koan = (115.8953125 picometre)
- 10 Koan = 1 Nunnanu (0.1158953125 nanometre)
- 10 Nunnanu = 1 Aṇu (atom) (1.158953125 nanometre)
- 8 Aṇu = 1 Kadirtugal (9.271625 nanometre)
- 8 Kadirtugal = 1 Tusumbu (74.173 nanometre)
- 8 Tusumbu = 1 Mayirnuni (0.593384 micrometre)
- 8 Mayirnuni = 1 Nunnmanal (4.74707 micrometre)
- 8 Nunnmanal = 1 Siru-kadugu (37.976563 micrometre)
- 8 Siru-kadugu = 1 Yel (303.8125 micrometre or 0.3038125 millimetre)
- 8 Yel = 1 Nel (2.4305 millimetre)
- 8 nel = 1 viral = 8^8 aṇu (atom) = 1.9444 centimetre
- 12 viral = 1 sāṇ = 100 immi= 23.3333 centimetre = 9 inch
- 2 sāṇ = 1 muḻam = 46.6666 centimetre = 1.5 feet
- 2 sāṇ = 1 muḻam
- 2 muḻam = 1 yard = 3 feet = 1 yard
- 2 yard(yaar) = 1 pāgam
- 110 pāgam = 1 furlong
- 8 furlong = 1 mile
- 5 furlong = 1 kilometre or 1000 metre
- 625 pāgam = 1 kādam = 5000 sāṇ = 1166.66 metres = 1.167 kilometre
Whole numbers
[edit]
The following are the traditional numbers of the Ancient Tamil Country, Tamilakam.
| Rank | 101 | 102 | 103 | 104 | 105 | 106 | 109 | 1012 | 1015 | 1018 | 1020 | 1021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Words | பத்து | நூறு | ஆயிரம் | பத்தாயிரம் | நூறாயிரம் | மெய்யிரம் | தொள்ளுண் | ஈகியம் | நெளை | இளஞ்சி | வெள்ளம் | ஆம்பல் |
| Character | ௰ | ௱ | ௲ | ௰௲ | ௱௲ | ௲௲ | ௲௲௲ | ௲௲௲௲ | ௲௲௲௲௲ | ௲௲௲௲௲௲ | ௱௲௲௲௲௲௲ | ௲௲௲௲௲௲௲ |
| Reading | pathu | nūru | āyiram | pattāyiram | nūraiyiram | meiyyiram | tollun | īkiyam | neļai | iļañci | veļļam | āmpal |
Tamil texts also elaborate the following sanskritized version :
- 1 ONDRU = One = 10 0
- 10 = PATU = Ten = 10 1
- 100 = NŌRU = Hundred = 10 2
- 1,000 = ĀYIRAM = One Thousand = 10 3
- 10,000 = PATĀYIRAM = Ten Thousand = 10 4
- 1,00,000 = LATCHAM = Hundred Thousand = 10 5
- 10,00,000 = PATHU LATCHAM = One Million = 10 6
- 1,00,00,000 = KODI = Ten Million = 10 7
- 10,00,00,000 = PATHU KODI = Hundred Million = 10 8
- 1,00,00,00,000 = ARPUTAM = One Billion = 10 9
- 10,00,00,00,000 = PATU ARPUTAM = Ten Billion = 10 10
- 1,00,00,00,00,000 = NIGARPUTAM = Hundred Billion = 10 11
- 10,00,00,00,00,000 = PATU NIGARPUTAM = One Trillion = 10 12
- 1,00,00,00,00,00,000 = KUMBAM = Ten Trillion = 10 13
- 10,00,00,00,00,00,000 = PATU KUMBAM = Hundred Trillion = 10 14
- 1,00,00,00,00,00,00,000 = GANAM = One Quadrillion = 10 15
- 10,00,00,00,00,00,00,000 = PATHU GANAM = Ten Quadrillion = 10 16
- 1,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,000 = KARPAM = Hundred Quadrillion = 10 17
- 10,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,000 = PATU KARPAM = One Quintillion = 10 18
- 1,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,000 = NIKARPAM = Ten Quintillion = 10 19
- 10,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,000 = PATU NIKARPAM = Hundred Quintillion = 10 20
- 1,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,000 = PATUMAM = One Sextillion = 10 21
- 10,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,000 = PATU PATUMAM = Ten Sextillion = 10 22
- 1,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,000 = SANGGAM = Hundred Sextillion = 10 23
- 10,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,000 = PATU SANGGAM = One Septillion = 10 24
- 1,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,000 = VELLAM = Ten Septillion = 10 25
- 10,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,000 = PATU VELLAM = Hundred Septillion = 10 26
- 1,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,000 = ANNIYAM = One Octillion = 10 27
- 10,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,000 = PATU ANNIYAM = Ten Octillion = 10 28
- 1,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,000 = ARTTAM = Hundred Octillion = 10 29
- 10,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,000 = PATHU ARTTAM = One Nonillion = 10 30
- 1,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,000 = PARARTTAM = Ten Nonillion = 10 31
- 10,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,000 = PATU PARARTTAM = Hundred Nonillion = 10 32
- 1,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,000 = PŌRIYAM = One Decillion = 10 33
- 10,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,000 = PATU PŌRIYAM = Ten Decillion = 10 34
- 1,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,000 = MUKKODI = Hundred Decillion = 10 35
- 10,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,000 = PATU MUKKODI = One Undecillion = 10 36
- 1,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,000 = MAHAYUGAM = Ten Undecillion = 10 37
Malaysian text elaborates the following version
- 1 ONDRU = One = 10 0
- 10 = PATU = Ten = 10 1
- 100 = NŌRU = Hundred = 10 2
- 1,000 = ĀYIRAM = One Thousand = 10 3
- 10,000 = PATĀYIRAM = Ten Thousand = 10 4
- 100,000 = LATCHAM = Hundred Thousand = 10 5
- 1,000,000 = PATU LATCHAM = One Million = 10 6
- 10,000,000 = KODI = Ten Million = 10 7
- 100,000,000 = PATU KODI = Hundred Million = 10 8
- 1,000,000,000 = NŌRU KODI = One Billion = 10 9
Fractions
[edit]- 1 – ஒன்று – onRu
- 3/4 = 0.75 – முக்கால் – mukkāl
- 1/2 = 0.5 – அரை – arai
- 1/4 = 0.25 – கால் – kāl
- 1/5 = 0.2 – நாலுமா – nālumā
- 3/16 = 0.1875 – மும்மாகாணி –mummākāṇi this is called as Mukkhani
- 3/20 = 0.15 – மும்மா – mummaa
- 1/8 = 0.125 – அரைக்கால் – araikkāl
- 1/10 = 0.1 – இருமா – irumā
- 1/16 = 0.0625 – மாகாணி (வீசம்) – mākāṇi (vīsam)
- 1/20 = 0.05 – ஒருமா – orumā
- 3/64 = 0.046875 – முக்கால்வீசம் – mukkāl vīsam
- 3/80 = 0.0375 – முக்காணி – mukkāṇi
- 1/32 = 0.03125 – அரைவீசம் – araivīsam
- 1/40 = 0.025 – அரைமா – araimā
- 1/64 = 0.015625 – கால் வீசம் – kaal vīsam
- 1/80 = 0.0125 – காணி – kāṇi
- 3/320 = 0.009375 – அரைக்காணி முந்திரி – araikkāṇi muntiri
- 1/160 = 0.00625 – அரைக்காணி – araikkāṇi
- 1/320 = 0.003125 – முந்திரி – muntiri
- 3/1280 = 0.00234375 – கீழ் முக்கால் – kīḻ mukkal
- 1/640 = 0.0015625 – கீழரை – kīḻarai
- 1/1280 = 7.8125e-04 – கீழ் கால் – kīḻ kāl
- 1/1600 = 0.000625 – கீழ் நாலுமா – kīḻ nalumā
- 3/5120 ≈ 5.85938e-04 – கீழ் மூன்று வீசம் – kīḻ mūndru vīsam
- 3/6400 = 4.6875e-04 – கீழ் மும்மா – kīḻ mummā
- 1/2500 = 0.0004 – கீழ் அரைக்கால் – kīḻ araikkāl
- 1/3200 = 3.12500e-04 – கீழ் இருமா – kīḻ irumā
- 1/5120 ≈ 1.95313e-04 – கீழ் வீசம் – kīḻ vīsam
- 1/6400 = 1.56250e-04 – கீழொருமா – kīḻ orumā
- 1/102400 ≈ 9.76563e-06 – கீழ்முந்திரி – kīḻ muntiri
- 1/2150400 ≈ 4.65030e-07 – இம்மி – immi
- 1/23654400 ≈ 4.22754e-08 – மும்மி – mummi
- 1/165580800 ≈ 6.03935e-09 – அணு – aṇu
- 1/1490227200 ≈ 6.71039e-10 – குணம் – kuṇam
- 1/7451136000 ≈ 1.34208e-10 – பந்தம் – pantam
- 1/44706816000 ≈ 2.23680e-11 – பாகம் – pāgam
- 1/312947712000 ≈ 3.19542e-12 – விந்தம் – vintam
- 1/5320111104000 ≈ 1.87966e-13 – நாகவிந்தம் – nāgavintam
- 1/74481555456000 ≈ 1.34261e-14 – சிந்தை – sintai
- 1/1489631109120000 ≈ 6.71307e-16 – கதிர்முனை –katirmunai
- 1/59585244364800000 ≈ 1.67827e-17 – குரல்வளைப்படி –kuralvaḷaippiḍi
- 1/3575114661888000000 ≈ 2.79711e-19 -வெள்ளம் – veḷḷam
- 1/357511466188800000000 ≈ 2.79711e-21 – நுண்மணல் –nuṇmaṇal
- 1/2323824530227200000000 ≈ 4.30325e-22 – தேர்த்துகள் –tērttugaḷ
Currency
[edit]- 1 pal (wooden discs/sea shellots) = (approximately) 0.9 grain
- 8 (or 10 base 8) paṟkaḷ = 1 senkāṇi (copper/bronze) = 7.2 grains(misinterpretted by Roman accounts as 10 base 10 paRkal = 9 grains)
- 1/4 senkāṇi = 1 kālkāṇi (copper) = 1.8 grains (misinterpretted by Roman accounts as 2.25 grains)
- 64 (or 100 base 8) paṟkaḷ = 1 KaaNap-pon aka. Kāsu panam(gold) = 57.6 grains
- 1 Roman dinarium was traded on par with 2 Kāṇappon plus 1 Senkāṇi(=124 grains).
- 18 Ana = 2.85 Rupee, 16 Ana = 1 Rupee, 1 Ana = 3 Tuṭu, 1/4 Ana = 3/4 (mukkal) tuṭu
Divisions of a Day
[edit]சிறுபொழுது (Daily)
1. மாலை (mālai): 6 pm-10 pm
2. இடையாமம் (iḍaiyāmam): 10 pm-2 am
3. வைகறை (vaikaṟai): 2 am-6 am
4. காலை (kālai): 6 am-10 am
5. நண்பகல் (naṇpagal): 10 am-2 pm
6. எற்பாடு (eṟpāḍu): 2 pm-6 pm
Seasons
[edit]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 |
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Keezhadi Excavation". Sivaganga District. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
- ^ Issac, Anna (19 September 2019). "Major discovery in Tamil Nadu's Keezhadi: A possible link to Indus Valley Civilisation". The news minute. Heverlee, Belgium: The news minute. Retrieved 28 January 2020.