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← Older revision		Revision as of 16:08, 14 August 2023
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	== External links ==		== External links ==
	{{commons category\|Malayalam calendar}}		{{commons category\|Malayalam calendar}}
	~~{{Portal bar\|India}}~~
	* [https://www.obidostech.com/malayalam-calendar/ Free Malayalam Calendar for Android and iPhone without download]		* [https://www.obidostech.com/malayalam-calendar/ Free Malayalam Calendar for Android and iPhone without download]
	* [http://monthlycalendars.in/malayalam/ Hindu Panchangam Calendar in Malayalam]		* [http://monthlycalendars.in/malayalam/ Hindu Panchangam Calendar in Malayalam]

imported>Sanjoydey33: Undid revision on 04:49, 14 April 2021‎ by IP <103.160.233.66> without any discussion or comment.

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Undid revision on 04:49, 14 April 2021‎ by IP <103.160.233.66> without any discussion or comment.

New page

{{Short description|Calendar Used in Kerala}}
{{redirect|Midhunam|the Malayalam film|Mithunam (1993 film)|the Telugu film|Midhunam (2012 film)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2018}}
[[File:Mampalli_copper_plate_(10th_century_AD).jpg|thumb|372x372px|[[Mampalli copper plate]] (10th century AD) - earliest record to mention the Kollam Era.]]
'''Malayalam Calendar''' or '''Kollam Era''' is a [[Solar calendar|solar]] and [[Hindu]] [[Sidereal time|sidereal]] calendar used in [[Kerala]]. The origin of the calendar has been dated to 825 CE.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.new1.dli.ernet.in/data1/upload/insa/INSA_1/20005b5f_93.pdf |title=Kollam Era |publisher=Indian Journal History of Science |access-date=30 December 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150527163650/http://www.new1.dli.ernet.in/data1/upload/insa/INSA_1/20005b5f_93.pdf |archive-date=27 May 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{Citation|title=Time measurement and calendar construction|author=Broughton Richmond|year=1956|pages=218|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gUlmAAAAMAAJ}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title=History of Kerala|author=R. Leela Devi|publisher=Vidyarthi Mithram Press & Book Depot|year=1986|pages=408|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pXpuAAAAMAAJ}}</ref>

There are many theories regarding the origin of the era, but according to recent scholarship, it commemorated the foundation of [[Kollam]] after the liberation of the region (known as [[Venad]]u) from the [[Pandya dynasty|Pandya]] rule by or with the assistance of the Chera king at [[Kodungallur]].<ref>Noburu Karashmia (ed.), ''A Concise History of South India: Issues and Interpretations.'' New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 2014. 89.</ref> The earliest record mentioning Kollam Era is a royal order by Sri Vallava Goda, the chieftain of Venadu, dated to c. 973 CE (Kollam Era 149). In the inscription the phrase "Kollam Tontri Andu" is employed.<ref name=":0" /> Kollam Era initially remained a local era in the port of Kollam alone and perhaps in the whole chiefdom of Venadu. Later it spread throughout Kerala and came to be known as the Malayalam Era.<ref name=":0" />

Another era referred to as "Kollam Azhinta Andu", counting from 1097 CE, was reckoned by the Pandyas for some time. It is tentatively calculated that the Pandya kings, under the sanction of their [[Chola dynasty|Chola]] overlords, captured the [[Port of Quilon|port of Kollam]] in 1097 CE.<ref name=":0">Narayanan, M. G. S. ''Perumāḷs of Kerala.'' Thrissur (Kerala): CosmoBooks, 2013. 74-76, 143.</ref>

== History ==
There are multiple conflicting accounts regarding the origins of the [[Malayalam]] calendar,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://historicalleys.blogspot.com/2013/06/the-kollam-calendar-mystery-discussion.html|title=The Kollam Calendar Mystery – A discussion}}</ref> some of which are mentioned below:
*The origin of Kollam Era has been dated to 825 CE, when the great convention in Kollam was held at the behest of King Kulashekhara. Kollam was an important town in that period, and the Malayalam Era is called 'Kollavarsham', possibly as a result of the [[Tharisapalli plates]].
*The Kollam era is attributed to the legend of the hero [[Parashurama|Paraśurāma]], an avatar (incarnation) of the god [[Vishnu]]. It is sometimes divided into cycles of 1,000 years reckoned from 1176 BCE. Thus, 825 CE would have been the first year of the era's third millennium.<ref>{{cite web|title=Chronology|url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/chronology#ref523199}}</ref>
*The news of the physical disappearance of Sri Adi Shankaracharya in 820 CE at Kedarnath reached Kerala only a few years later. It is believed that Kerala began the Malayalam era, also called the Kollam era, in 825 CE in his memory.<ref>[https://www.sringeri.net/2010/05/31/publication/dvd/kalady-the-triumph-of-faith-over-time.htm Kalady: The Triumph of Faith Over Time]. Dir. Rajesh Krishnan, K. Anand, and S. Thyagarajan. Sri Shankara Advaita Research Center, Sringeri, May 31, 2010. DVD.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HaYfoghV-n8|title=Kalady: The Triumph of Faith Over Time (Rediscovery of Sri Adi Shankaracharya's Birth Place)|last=sharadapeetham|date=25 April 2012|via=YouTube}}</ref><ref>K. V. Sarma, [https://www.insa.nic.in/writereaddata/UpLoadedFiles/IJHS/Vol31_1_6_KVSarma.pdf Kollam Era], Indian Journal of History of Science, 31(1), 1996, pp. 93-100</ref>
* According to [[Hermann Gundert]], Kollavarsham started as part of erecting a new Shiva Temple in Kollam and because of the strictly local and religious background, the other regions did not follow this system at first. Once Kollam port emerged as an important trade center, however, the other countries also started to follow the new system of calendar. This theory backs the remarks of [[Ibn Battuta]] as well.<ref name='ASurveyOfKeralaHistory-104' /><ref name="kerala.gov.in-ക">{{cite web|title=Kollam - Short History|url=http://www.kerala.gov.in/statistical/panchayat_statistics2001/klm_shis.htm|work=Statistical Data|publisher=kerala.gov.in|access-date=8 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071121073245/http://www.kerala.gov.in/statistical/panchayat_statistics2001/klm_shis.htm|archive-date=2007-11-21  |format=Short History}}</ref>
* It is also believed that the era started as part of erection of [[Thirupalkadal Sreekrishnaswamy Temple]], family temple of [[Venad]] located at [[Keezhperoor]] or Kil-perur. [[Keezhperoor]] is place located near [[Kilimanoor]] which is used as prefix along with name of [[Venad]] and [[Travancore]] monarchs and is believed to be the maternal home of [[Kulasekhara Alvar]].
* It is believed that the era was started by the Syrian Christian saints [[Mar Sabor and Mar Proth]] who settled in Korukeni, Kollam, near to the present Kollam. The Tharisapalli copper plates were issued to them.<ref name='ASurveyOfKeralaHistory-104'>{{cite book|title=A Survey Of Kerala History|orig-year=1967|year=2007|publisher=DC Books, Kottayam|isbn=978-81-264-1578-6|pages=104–110|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FVsw35oEBv4C&q=Nestorian+kollam+era&pg=PA104|author=A. Sreedhara Menon|author-link=A. Sreedhara Menon|access-date=7 August 2013|chapter=CHAPTER VIII - THE KOLLAM ERA}}</ref><ref>[http://www.kerala.gov.in/statistical/panchayat_statistics2001/klm_shis.htm Kerala government website] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071121073245/http://www.kerala.gov.in/statistical/panchayat_statistics2001/klm_shis.htm |date=2007-11-21 }}</ref><ref>In the Travancore State Manual, Ch:XIII, pages 49-50, by Sri. T.K. Velu Pillai according to [http://www.angelfire.com/nt/vmp/onam.html keralainfoservice]</ref>

==Months==
The Malayalam months follows the Sanskritic Sauramāsa (solar month) naming convention. Thus, Chingam is named after the corresponding Sanskrit solar month, the [[Siṃha|Simham]], and so on. This is unlike the case in Tulu calendar which follow the names of lunar months. The following are the months of the astronomical Malayalam calendar:

{| class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto"
|+ Comparative table showing corresponding months of other calendars
!No.
! Months in Malayalam Era
! In [[Malayalam]]
!Sanskrit solar month
! [[Gregorian Calendar]]
! [[Tulu calendar]]
! [[Tamil calendar]]
! [[Saka era]]
! [[Astrological sign#Western zodiac signs|Sign of zodiac]]
|-
|'''1.'''
|''Chingam''
| {{lang|ml|ചിങ്ങം}}
|[[Siṃha]]
| August–September
| Sona
| ''Aavani''
| ''Śravana''–''Bhādrapada''
| Leo
|-
|'''2.'''
|''Kanni''
|{{lang|ml|കന്നി}}
|[[Kanyā]]
| September–October
| Nirnaala
| ''Purattasi''
|''Bhādrapada''–''Aśvina''
| Virgo
|-
|'''3.'''
|''Thulam''
| {{lang|ml|തുലാം}}
|[[Tulā]]
| October–November
| Bonthyel
| ''Aippasi ''
| ''Aśvina''–''Kārtika''
| Libra
|-
|'''4.'''
|''Vrishchikam ''
| {{lang|ml|വൃശ്ചികം}}
|[[Vṛścik‌‌‌a]]m
| November–December
| Jaarde
|''Karthigai''
|''Kārtika''–''Mārgaśīrṣa''
| Scorpio
|-
|'''5.'''
|''Dhanu''
| {{lang|ml|ധനു}}
|[[Dhanu (month)|Dhanu]]
| December–January
| Peraarde
|''Margazhi ''
|''Mārgaśīrṣa''–''Pauṣa ''
| Sagittarius
|-
|'''6.'''
|''Makaram''
| {{lang|ml|മകരം}}
|[[Makara (month)|Makara]]
| January–February
| Ponny
|''Thai ''
|''Pauṣa''/''Taiṣya''-''Māgha''
| Capricorn
|-
|'''7.'''
|''Kumbham''
| {{lang|ml|കുംഭം}}
|[[Kumbha (month)|Kumbha]]
| February–March
| Maayi
|''Maasi''
|''Māgha''–''Phālguna ''
| Aquarius
|-
|'''8.'''
|''Meenam''
| {{lang|ml|മീനം}}
|[[Mīna]]
| March–April
| Suggy
|''Panguni ''
|''Phālguna''–''Chaitra ''
| Pisces
|-
|'''9.'''
|''Meddam''
| {{lang|ml|മേടം}}
|[[Meṣa]]
| April–May
| Paggu
|''Chithirai ''
| ''Chaitra''– ''Vaiśākha''
| Aries
|-
|'''10.'''
|''Edavam''
| {{lang|ml|ഇടവം}}
|[[Vṛṣabha]]
| May–June
| Besa
|''Vaikasi ''
|''Vaiśākha''–''Jyaiṣṭha''
| Taurus
|-
|'''11.'''
|''Mithunam''
| {{lang|ml|മിഥുനം}}
|[[Mithuna (month)|Mithuna]]
| June–July
| Kaarthel
|'' Aani ''
|''Jyaiṣṭha''–''Āṣāḍha''
| Gemini
|-
|'''12.'''
|''Karkadakam''
| {{lang|ml|കർക്കടകം}}
|[[Karkaṭa]]ka
| July–August
| Aaty
|'' Aadi ''
|''Āṣāḍha''–Ś''rāvaṇa''
| Cancer
|}

== Days ==
The days of the week in the Malayalam calendar are suffixed with ''Aazhcha'' ({{lang|ml|ആഴ്ച}}), meaning week.

{| class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto"
|+ Comparative table showing corresponding weekdays
!No.
! Malayalam!! മലയാളം
!Sanskrit!! English ||Kannada|| Tamil || Hindi || Arabic || Punjabi
|-
|'''1.'''
|''Njayar'' || {{lang|ml|ഞായർ}}
|Bhānu vāsara|| Sunday ||Bhanuvara|| Nyaayiru (ஞாயிறு) || Ravivaar/Itvaar
(रविवार/इतवार)
| al-aḥad||Ravivaar/Aitvaar (ਰਵਿਵਾਰ/ਐਤਵਾਰ)
|-
|'''2.'''
|''Thinkal'' || {{lang|ml|തിങ്കൾ}}
|Soma vāsara|| Monday ||Somavara|| Thingal (திங்கள்) || Somvaar
(सोमवार)
| al-ithnayn ||Somvaar
(ਸੋਮਵਾਰ)
|-
|'''3.'''
|''Chowva'' || {{lang|ml|ചൊവ്വ}}
|Maṅgala vāsara|| Tuesday ||Mangalavara|| Chevvai (செவ்வாய்) || Mangalvaar
(मङ्गलवार)
| al-thalāthāʾ|| Mangalvaar (ਮੰਗਲਵਾਰ)
|-
|'''4.'''
|''Budhan '' || {{lang|ml|ബുധൻ}}
|Budha vāsara||Wednesday ||Budhavara|| Budhan (புதன்) || Budhvaar
(बुधवार)
| al-arbaʿā|| Budhvaar
(ਬੁਧਵਾਰ)
|-
|'''5.'''
|''Vyazham '' || {{lang|ml|വ്യാഴം}}
|Guru vāsara||Thursday ||Guruvara|| Vyazhan (வியாழன்) ||Guruvaar/Brihaspativaar
(गुरूवार/बृहस्पतिवार)
| al-khamīs || Guruvaar/Veervaar (ਗੁਰੂਵਾਰ/ਵੀਰਵਾਰ)
|-
|'''6.'''
|''Velli'' || {{lang|ml|വെള്ളി}}
|Śukra vāsara||Friday ||Shukravara|| Velli (வெள்ளி) ||Shukravaar
(शुक्रवार)
| al-jumuʿah || Shukarvaar
(ਸ਼ੁਕਰਵਾਰ)
|-
|'''7.'''
|''Shani'' || {{lang|ml|ശനി}}
|Śani vāsara||Saturday ||Shanivara|| Shani (சனி)||Shanivaar
(शनिवार)
| al-sabt|| Shanivaar
(ਸ਼ਨੀਵਾਰ)
|}

Like the months above, there are twenty seven [[nakshatra|stars]] starting from Aswati ([[Ashvini|Ashvinī]] in Sanskrit) and ending in [[Revati (nakshatra)|Revatī]]. The 365 days of the year are divided into groups of fourteen days called ''Ñattuvela'' ({{lang|ml|ഞാറ്റുവേല}}), each one bearing the name of a star.

== Significant dates ==
Vishu ({{lang|ml|വിഷു}}), celebrated on the 1st of Metam, and ''[[Onam]]'' ({{lang|ml|ഓണം}}), celebrated on the star Thiruvonam {{IPA-ml|t̪iruʋoːɳəm|}} in the month of ''Chingam'', are two of the major festivals. The first day of ''Chingam'' is celebrated as the [[Kerala New Year]] replacing Vishu ({{lang|ml|വിഷു}}), which was till then{{when|date=July 2017}} considered the beginning of a year. Vishu is celebrated as the traditional new year particularly in erstwhile malabar and south canara areas, as it is astronomically significant 'Medam' being the first among the twelve Rashis (corresponding to months of a year).

The [[Makaravilakku]] festival is celebrated in the [[Ayyappan|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. The 1st of ''Makaram'' marks the Winter Solstice (Uttarayanam) and the 1st of ''Karkaṭakam'' marks the summer solstice (Dakshinayanam) according to the Malayalam calendar. (According to the astronomical calendar the summer solstice is on June 21, and the winter solstice on December 21.)

Chaitram 1 (usually coinciding with March 20) or Metam 1 (mostly coinciding with April 14, for 2019 it was on April 15th), both in the proximity of the date of the vernal equinox (March 21), mark the beginning of the new year in many traditional Indian calendars such as the [[Indian national calendar|Indian National calendar]] and the [[Tamil calendar]]. When the Government of Kerala adopted Kolla Varsham as the regional calendar, the 1st of ''Chingam'', the month of the festival of Onam, was accepted as the Malayalam New Year instead.{{citation needed|date=January 2019}}

==Derived names==
Many events in Kerala are related to the dates in the Malayalam calendar.

The agricultural activities of Kerala are centred on the seasons. The southwest [[monsoon]] which starts around 1 June is known as ''Etavappathi'', meaning mid of month ''Etavam''. The northeast 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'' (harvests in the months ''kanni'' and ''makaram'') respectively.

== See also ==
* [[Bengali calendar]]
* [[Hindu calendar]]
* [[Meitei calendar|Manipuri calendar]]
* [[Tamil calendar]]
* [[Great flood of 99]], in Kerala in 1924 CE, or 1099 ME

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{commons category|Malayalam calendar}}
{{Portal bar|India}}
* [https://www.obidostech.com/malayalam-calendar/ Free Malayalam Calendar for Android and iPhone without download]
* [http://monthlycalendars.in/malayalam/ Hindu Panchangam Calendar in Malayalam]
* [https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.panchang.malayalamcalender Malayalam calendar with panchangam]
* [http://hindupanchangam.org/malayalam/ Malayalam Panchang Calendars with Tithi, Nakshtra etc]
* [http://kollavarsham.org/ Open Source software libraries for Malayalam Calendar]

{{calendars}}
{{Kollam}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Malayalam Calendar}}
[[Category:History of Kollam]]
[[Category:Hindu calendar]]
[[Category:Calendar eras]]
[[Category:Culture of Kerala]]
[[Category:Specific calendars]]
[[Category:Hindu festivals in Kerala|*]]
[[Category:Time in India]]

Malayalam calendar - Revision history

AlmedaCheyne: slightly expanded intro after review further and added references per standard format

CleanupBot II: Removed empty portal template using script

imported>Sanjoydey33: Undid revision on 04:49, 14 April 2021‎ by IP <103.160.233.66> without any discussion or comment.