Tamil units of measurement

The Tamil units of measurement is a system of measurements that was traditionally used in ancient Tamil-speaking 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 International System of Units (Tamil Nadu state included), some of these older day 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. A shift of Indian mathematicians to South India after the 12th century^[1] could be a driving factor for homogenisation. However, this remains a hypothesis because study of ancient science has been neglected in India.^[2] A large number of ancient manuscripts in Kerala and Tamil Nadu remain untranslated and unpublished.^[1]

Units of time in ancient Tamil history

12 (base 8) or 10 kuḻigaḷ = 1 miy = 66.6666 millisecond-the time taken by the young human eyes to flap once.
2 kaṇṇimaigaḷ (கண்ணிமைகள்) = 1 kainoḍi (கைநொடி) = 0.125 second
2 kainodi = 1 māttirai (மாத்திரை) = 0.25 second
6 (base 8) or 6 miygaḷ = 1 ciṟṟuḻi (noḍi) சிற்றுழி (நொடி) = 0.40 second-the time taken for a bubble (created by blowing air through a bamboo tube into a vessel 1 cāṇ high, full of water) to travel a distance of one cāṇ (சாண்).
2 māttiraigaḷ = 1 kuṟu (குறு) = 0.50 second
2 (base 8) or 2 noḍigaḷ = 1 viṉāḍi வினாடி = 0.80 second-the time for the adult human heart to beat once
2¹⁄₂ noḍigaḷ = 2 kuru = 1 uyir உயிர் = 1 second
5 noḍigaḷ = 2 uyir = 1 cāṇigam சாணிகம் = 1/2 aṇu அணு = 2 seconds
12 (base 8) or 10 noḍigaḷ = 1 aṇu = 4 seconds
6 (base 8) or 6 aṇukkaḷ = 12 cāṇigam = 1 tuḷi துளி = 1 nāḻigai-viṉāḍi நாழிகை வினாடி = 24 seconds
12 (base 8) or 10 tuḷigaḷ = 1 kaṇam கணம் = 4 minutes
6 (base 8) or 6 kaṇangaḷ = 1 nāḻigai = 24 minutes
12 (base 8) or 10 nāḻigaigaḷ = 4 cāmam சாமம் = 1 ciṟupoḻutu சிறுபொழுது = 240 minutes = 4 hours
6 (base 8) or 6 ciṟu-poḻutugaḷ = 1 nāḷ நாள் (1 day) = 24 hours
7 nāṭkaḷ = 1 vāram வாரம் (1 week)
15 nāṭkaḷ = 1 aḻuvaluvamam அழுவம் (1 fortnight)
29.5 nāṭkaḷ = 1 tingaḷ திங்கள் (1 lunar month)
2 tingaḷ = 1 perum-poḻutu பெரும்பொழுது (1 season)
6 perum-poḻutugaḷ = 1 āṇdu (1 year)
64 āṇdugaḷ = 1 vaṭṭam வட்டம் (1 cycle)
4096 (=8^4) āṇdugaḷ = 1 ōḻi ஊழி (1 epoch)

Area Measurement

1 Marakkal vēdaipadu (seeds required for planting rice) = 8 cents
12.5 Marakkal vēdaipadu = 100 cents (one acre)
kuṟuṇi குறுணி = 8 cents
patakku பதக்கு = 16 cents
mukkuṟuṇi முக்குறுணி = 24 cents

Area calculation and Measurement Chart

1 hectare = 2 acre 47 cent
1 hectare = 10,000 sq m
1 acre = 0.405 hectare
1 acre = 4046.82 sq m
1 acre = 43,560 sq ft
1 acre = 100 cent = 4840 sq gejam
1 cent = 435.6 sq ft
1 cent = 40.5 sq m
1 ground = 222.96 sq m = 5.5 cent
1 ground = 2400 sq ft
1 Vīsam = 6*6 sq ft = 36 sq ft
1 acre = 436 Kuzhie
1 Kuḻi = 4 Vīsams
1 Kuḻi = 144 sq ft
1 Kuḻi = 0.331 cents
1 Kāni = 400 kuzhis
1 acre = 302 kuzhi
1 ankanam = 8 sq yd/72 sq ft
1 Mā = 100 kuzhi = 14400 sq ft
1 Kāni = 4 Mā = 57600 sq ft
1 kāni = 132 cents = 1.32 acre
1 acre = 75.625 kuzhi
1 Veļi = 5 kāni = 20 Ma = 6.62 Acre = 2.679 hectares
1 dismil = 2.5 cent
1 furlong = 660 feet = 220 kejam
1 kilometre = 5 furlong
1 link / chain = 0.66 foot = 7.92 inch
1 kejam = 9.075 sq ft
1 mile = 8 furlong
1 ares = 1076 sq ft = 2.47 cent
1 chain = 22 kejam
1 furlong = 10 chain
1 kejam = 0.9144 metre
1 township = 36 sq mile
1 sq mile = 640 acre
1 cent = 48.4 sq kejam

In Jaffna, Sri Lanka For House property

1 Parapu = 10 Perches
1 Lacham = 1 Parapu (both are the same size the only name is different)
16 Parapu = 1 Acre
1 Acre = 160 Perches = 4 Roods = 4000 Sqm.
1 Perch = 25 Sqm.
1 acre = 160 perch = 8.89 parappu-- This is incorrect. The correct measurement is 1 acre=16 parappu as mentioned 3 lines above

Varaku Culture (V.C.)

18 kulies = 1 lacham
16 lachams = 1 acre

Paddy Culture (P.C.)

12 kulies = 1 lacham
24 lachams = 1 acre

Units of ancient trade

Balance weights

Thanga edaihal

4 nel eḍai (நல் எடை) = 1 kuṉṟimaṇi (குன்றிமணி)
2 kuṉṟimaṇi (குன்றிமணி) = 1 māñcāḍi (மாஞ்சாடி)
1 māñcāḍi (மாஞ்சாடி) = 1 paṇaveḍai (பணவெடை)
5 paṇaveḍai (பணவெடை) = 1 kaḻañcu (கழஞ்சு)
8 paṇaveḍai (பணவெடை) = 1 varāgaṉeḍai (வராகனெடை)
20 paṇaveḍai (பணவெடை) = 4 kaḻañcu (கழஞ்சு) = 1 kaqhsu (கஃசு)
80 paṇaveḍai (பணவெடை)= 16 kaḻañcu (கழஞ்சு)= 4 kaqhsu (கஃசு)= 1 palam (பலம்)
1.5 Kaḻañcu (கழஞ்சு) = 8 grams or one sovereign/pavun.

The above is not in line with South Indian Inscriptions. 2 kuṉṟima குன்றிமணி = 1 māñcāḍi மஞ்சாடி 20 māñcāḍi மஞ்சாடி = 1 kaḻañcu கழஞ்சு Ceylon Currency and Coins by H W Codrington page 10 too agrees with 20 māñcāḍi = 1 kaḻañcu.

Porutkal yedaihal

32 kuṉṟimaṇi = 1 varāgaṉeḍai
10 varāgaṉeḍai = 1 palam
40 palam = 1 veesai
1000 palam = 1 kā
6 veesai = 1 tulām
8 veesai = 1 maṇangu
20 maṇangu = 1 pāram.

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
5 marakkāl = 1 paṟai
80 paṟai = 1 karisai
48 padi = 1 kalam
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

Likeness (Sārttal)

Likeness has attributes of tone, sound, colour and shape for comparison of a given substance with a known standard.

Whole numbers

The following are the traditional numbers of the Ancient Tamil Country, Tamizhakam.

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

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. காலை (kālai): 6 am-10 am
2. நண்பகல் (naṇpagal): 10 am-2 pm
3. ஏற்பாடு (ēṟpāḍu): 2 pm-6 pm
4. மாலை (mālai): 6 pm-10 pm
5. இடையாமம் (iḍaiyāmam): 10 pm-2 am
6. வைகறை (vaikaṟai): 2 am-6 am

Divisions of the Year

பெரும்பொழுது (பெரும்பொழுது என்பது யாது எனில் பன்னிரு மாதங்களை ஆறாய்ப் பகுத்தது)

1. இளவேனில் (Iḷavēṉil): சித்திரை , வைகாசி
2. முதுவேனில் (Mutuvēṉil) :ஆனி , ஆடி
3. கார்காலம் (Kārkālam): ஆவணி, புரட்டாசி
4. குளிர்காலம் (Kuḷirkālam): ஐப்பசி ,கார்த்திகை
5. முன்பனிக் காலம்(Muṉpaṉik kālam): மார்கழி , தை
6. பின்பனிக் காலம் (Piṉpaṉik kālam): மாசி , பங்குனி

References

1 2 Indian Institute Of Science, Landmarks of Science in Early India - Michael Danino
↑ Gupta, Jayanta (September 4, 2003). "Manuscripts narrate a tale of neglect". Times of India. Kolkata: Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. Retrieved 19 May 2012.

Sources

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.

[iisc.ernet.in-1] 1 2 Indian Institute Of Science, Landmarks of Science in Early India - Michael Danino

[Neglected_History-2] Gupta, Jayanta (September 4, 2003). "Manuscripts narrate a tale of neglect". Times of India. Kolkata: Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. Retrieved 19 May 2012.