Tamil units of measurement

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Template:Short description Script error: No such module "Unsubst". Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use Indian English Template:Special characters

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 Template:Tlit (not to be confused with the dollar-cent) and the ‘ground’, both used to measure land and the Template:Tlit 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]Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

Units of time

Tamil units of time (from smallest to largest)
Unit Divisions Equivalent Notes
1 Script error: No such module "Lang". (Template:Tlit) none 6Template:2/3 milliseconds
1 Script error: No such module "Lang". (Template:Tlit) none 62.5 milliseconds
1 Script error: No such module "Lang". (Template:Tlit) 10 Script error: No such module "Lang". (Template:Tlit) 66Template:2/3 milliseconds The time taken by the young human eyes to blink once
1 Script error: No such module "Lang". (Template:Tlit) 2 Script error: No such module "Lang". (Template:Tlit) 0.125 seconds
1 Script error: No such module "Lang". (Template:Tlit) 2 Script error: No such module "Lang". (Template:Tlit) 0.25 seconds
1 Script error: No such module "Lang". (Template:Tlit) 6 Script error: No such module "Lang". (Template:Tlit) 0.4 seconds The time taken for a bubble<templatestyles src="Citation/styles.css"/>[a] to travel a distance of 1 Script error: No such module "Lang". (Template:Tlit)
1 Script error: No such module "Lang". (Template:Tlit) 2 Script error: No such module "Lang". (Template:Tlit) 0.5 seconds
1 Script error: No such module "Lang". (Template:Tlit) 2 Script error: No such module "Lang". (Template:Tlit) 0.8 seconds The time taken by the adult human heart to beat once
1 Script error: No such module "Lang". (Template:Tlit) 2 Script error: No such module "Lang". (Template:Tlit) 1 second
1 Script error: No such module "Lang". (Template:Tlit) 2 Script error: No such module "Lang". (Template:Tlit) 2 seconds
1 Script error: No such module "Lang". (Template:Tlit) 2 Script error: No such module "Lang". (Template:Tlit) 4 seconds
1 Script error: No such module "Lang". (Template:Tlit) 6 Script error: No such module "Lang". (Template:Tlit) 24 seconds
1 Script error: No such module "Lang". (Template:Tlit)
1 Script error: No such module "Lang". (Template:Tlit) 10 Script error: No such module "Lang". (Template:Tlit) 4 minutes
1 Script error: No such module "Lang". (Template:Tlit) 6 Script error: No such module "Lang". (Template:Tlit) 24 minutes
1 Script error: No such module "Lang". (Template:Tlit) 15 Script error: No such module "Lang". (Template:Tlit) 1 hour
1 Script error: No such module "Lang". (Template:Tlit) 4 Script error: No such module "Lang". (Template:Tlit) 4 hours
1 Script error: No such module "Lang". (Template:Tlit) 6 Script error: No such module "Lang". (Template:Tlit) 1 day
1 Script error: No such module "Lang". (Template:Tlit) 7 Script error: No such module "Lang". (Template:Tlit) 1 week
1 Script error: No such module "Lang". (Template:Tlit) 15 Script error: No such module "Lang". (Template:Tlit) 15 days
1 Script error: No such module "Lang". (Template:Tlit) none 1 lunar month
1 Script error: No such module "Lang". (Template:Tlit) 2 Script error: No such module "Lang". (Template:Tlit) 2 lunar months
1 Script error: No such module "Lang". (Template:Tlit) 6 Script error: No such module "Lang". (Template:Tlit) 1 year
1 Script error: No such module "Lang". (Template:Tlit) 64 Script error: No such module "Lang". (Template:Tlit) 64 years 1 cycle
1 Script error: No such module "Lang". (Template:Tlit) 64 Script error: No such module "Lang". (Template:Tlit) 4,096 years 1 epoch

Notes

A. <templatestyles src="Citation/styles.css"/>^ created by blowing air through a bamboo tube into a vessel 1 Script error: No such module "Lang". (Template:Tlit) high, full of water

Units of area

Units of area measurement (from smallest to largest)
Unit Divisions Equivalent Notes
1 Script error: No such module "Lang". (Template:Tlit) none 7.56 square feet
1 sq Script error: No such module "Lang". (Template:Tlit) <templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />5⁄242 of a cent
1 Script error: No such module "Lang". (Template:Tlit) 36 square feet
1 Script error: No such module "Lang". (Template:Tlit) 4 Script error: No such module "Lang". (Template:Tlit) 144 square feet
1 perch none 0.625 cents In Jaffna, Sri Lanka
1 Template:Tlit 12 Template:TlitScript error: No such module "Unsubst". <templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />4+1⁄6 cents In Paddy CultureScript error: No such module "Unsubst".
1 Template:Tlit 10 perches 6.25 cents In Jaffna, Sri Lanka
1 Template:Tlit 18 Template:TlitScript error: No such module "Unsubst". In Varaku CultureScript error: No such module "Unsubst".
1 Script error: No such module "Lang". (Template:Tlit) none 8 cents area required for planting rice
1 Script error: No such module "Lang". (Template:Tlit)
1 Script error: No such module "Lang". (Template:Tlit) 2 Script error: No such module "Lang". (Template:Tlit) or 2 Script error: No such module "Lang". (Template:Tlit) 16 cents
1 Script error: No such module "Lang". (Template:Tlit) 3 Script error: No such module "Lang". (Template:Tlit) or 3 Script error: No such module "Lang". (Template:Tlit) 24 cents
1 Script error: No such module "Lang". (Template:Tlit) 100 Script error: No such module "Lang". (Template:Tlit) 1,600 square yards
1 Script error: No such module "Lang". (Template:Tlit) 4 Script error: No such module "Lang". (Template:Tlit) 6,400 square yards
1 Script error: No such module "Lang". (Template:Tlit) 5 Script error: No such module "Lang". (Template:Tlit) 32,000 square yards
none 16 Template:Tlit 1 acre In Jaffna, Sri Lanka
16 Template:Tlit In Varaku CultureScript error: No such module "Unsubst".
24 Template:Tlit In Paddy CultureScript error: No such module "Unsubst".

Units of ancient trade

Balance weights

Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

Gold Weights
Unit Divisions Equivalent Notes
1 Script error: No such module "Lang". (Template:Tlit) none
1 Script error: No such module "Lang". (Template:Tlit) 4 Script error: No such module "Lang". (Template:Tlit)
1 Script error: No such module "Lang". (Template:Tlit) 2 Script error: No such module "Lang". (Template:Tlit)
1 Script error: No such module "Lang". (Template:Tlit)
1 Script error: No such module "Lang". (Template:Tlit) 5 Script error: No such module "Lang". (Template:Tlit)
1 Script error: No such module "Lang". (Template:Tlit) 8 Script error: No such module "Lang". (Template:Tlit)
1 Script error: No such module "Lang". (Template:Tlit) 4 Script error: No such module "Lang". (Template:Tlit)
1 Script error: No such module "Lang". 4 Script error: No such module "Lang". (Template:Tlit)
Product weights
Unit Divisions Equivalent Notes
1 Template:Tlit 32 Template:Tlit
1 Template:Tlit 10 Template:Tlit
1 Template:Tlit 40 Template:Tlit
1 Template:Tlit 6 Template:Tlit
1 Template:Tlit 8 Template:Tlit
1 Template:Tlit 25 Template:Tlit
1 Template:Tlit 20 Template:Tlit

Grain volume

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

Old Tamil numerical characters 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 Script error: No such module "Lang". Script error: No such module "Lang". Script error: No such module "Lang". Script error: No such module "Lang". Script error: No such module "Lang". Script error: No such module "Lang". Script error: No such module "Lang". Script error: No such module "Lang". Script error: No such module "Lang". Script error: No such module "Lang". Script error: No such module "Lang". Script error: No such module "Lang".
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

  • 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

  • 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

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

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

References

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  1. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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Sources

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