Jan 3

Written by: Jayanthi
Thursday, January 03, 2008

Western - Vedic Calendars
Western/ Hindi/ Tamil/ Malayalam

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Unlike the Western calendar, which is very consistent and predictable without using astrological data, the Hindu calendars use either the sun or moon to determine the months, both in what day they start and in some cases, in their duration.

This article deals with the differences between the Western Calendar, the North Indian Hindu calendar and the South Indian Hindu Calendar. The North Indian Hindu calendar is followed in all states of India except Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Though, I have used the Tamil words to signify the months, this calendar is similar to the Kerala (Malayalam) calendar.

The Hindu calendars begin in the equivalent English month March- April, this is because this is when their New Year falls. Though Indian Hindus do celebrate January 1st as a new year, traditionally their new year falls in that time period. It is true, also that the Tamil and Malayalam new year falls after the New Year for the rest the Hindu Indian calendar. It is also true that their calendar does follow a different year in numbers, it is not 2003. I am not sure of the number of their year though.

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Vedic Sun Signs:
In Vedic Astrology, the sun signsare called 'rasis', this is because
the sun's movement coincides with these rasis. Hence the Tamil and the Western Zodic are somewhat similiar in this. Below detail the rasis listed in Tamil and their equivalent English names.

Mesham = Aries Rishabam = Taurus Mithunam = Gemini Kathakam = Cancer Simhan = Leo Kanya = Virgo

Thulam = Libra Vrishchigam = Scorpio Dhanus = Sagittarius Makaram = Capricorn Kumbam = Aquarius Meenam = Pisces

Months in the Various Hindu Calendars English Months Hindi/Tamil/Malayalam No. of Days H/T/M April/ May Chaitra/ Chiththirai/ Medam 30/31/31 May/ June Vaisakha/ Vaikasi/ Edavam 31/31/ 31 June/ July Jyaistha/Aani/ Midhunam 31/32/31 July/ August Asadha/Aadi/ Karkidakam 31/31/32 August/ September Sravana/Aavani/ Chingam 31/31/31 September/ October Bhadrapada/ Purattasi/ Kanni 31/31/30 October/ November Asvina/Aippasi/ Thulam 30/29-30/30 November/ December Karttika/Karthigai/ Vrischikam 30/29-30/30 December/ January Margasirsa/Margazhi/ Dhanu 30/29/30 January/ Febraury Pausa/Thai/ Makaram 30/29-30/29 February/ March Magha/Maasi/ Kumbham 30/29-30/30 March/ April Phalguna/Panguni/ Meenam 30/31/31 Days of the Week Translated Western Hindi/Tamil/Malayalam Sunday (day of Sun) Raviãra/ Nyaayitrukizhamai/ Njayar Monday (day of Moon) Somavãra/ Thingatkizhamai/ Thingal Tuesday (day of Mars) Mañgalvã/  Sevvaaikizhamai/ Chovva Wednesday (day of Mercury) Budhavãra/  Budhankizhamai/ Budhan Thursday (day of Jupiter) Guruvã/  Vyaazhakizhamai/ Vyazham Friday (day of Venus) Sukravãra/  Vellikizhamai/ Velli Saturday (day of Saturn) Sanivãra/  Sanikizhamai/ Suni Referral Source

References: Hindu New Year.com copyright 2002-2008 and beyond. author: Jennifer Kumar This page was visited over 53,000 between January 2002- January 2008 on tripod. Updated August 2003, October, December 2007, July 2008.

Copyright ©2008 Jennifer Jayanthi Kumar

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