Tamil units of measurement

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 (not to be confused with the dollar-cent) and the ‘ground’, both used to measure land and the 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, and suggest possibilities of ancient Indian mathematicians in Tamil Nadu.

Units of time

+ Tamil units of time (from smallest to largest) Unit Divisions Equivalent Notes 1 () none 6 milliseconds 1 () none 62.5 milliseconds 1 () 10 () 66 milliseconds The time taken by the young human eyes to blink once 1 () 2 () 0.125 seconds 1 () 2 () 0.25 seconds 1 () 6 () 0.4 seconds The time taken for a bubble to travel a distance of 1 () 1 () 2 () 0.5 seconds 1 () 2 () 0.8 seconds The time taken by the adult human heart to beat once 1 () 2 () 1 second 1 () 2 () 2 seconds 1 () 2 () 4 seconds 1 () 6 () 24 seconds 1 () 1 () 10 () 4 minutes 1 () 6 () 24 minutes 1 () 15 () 1 hour 1 () 4 () 4 hours 1 () 6 () 1 day 1 () 7 () 1 week 1 () 15 () 15 days 1 () none 1 lunar month 1 () 2 () 2 lunar months 1 () 6 () 1 year 1 () 64 () 64 years 1 cycle 1 () 64 () 4,096 years 1 epoch

Notes

A. created by blowing air through a bamboo tube into a vessel 1 () high, full of water

Units of area

+ Units of area measurement (from smallest to largest) Unit Divisions Equivalent Notes 1 () none 7.56 square feet 1 sq () of a cent 1 () 36 square feet 1 () 4 () 144 square feet 1 perch none 0.625 cents In Jaffna, Sri Lanka 1 12 cents In Paddy Culture 1 10 perches 6.25 cents In Jaffna, Sri Lanka 1 18 In Varaku Culture 1 () none 8 cents area required for planting rice 1 () 1 () 2 () or 2 () 16 cents 1 () 3 () or 3 () 24 cents 1 () 100 () 1,600 square yards 1 () 4 () 6,400 square yards 1 () 5 () 32,000 square yards none 16 1 acre In Jaffna, Sri Lanka 16 In Varaku Culture 24 In Paddy Culture

Units of ancient trade Balance weights

+ Gold Weights Unit Divisions Equivalent Notes 1 () none 1 () 4 () 1 () 2 () 1 () 1 () 5 () 1 () 8 () 1 () 4 () 1 4 ()

+ Product weights Unit Divisions Equivalent Notes 1 32 1 10 1 40 1 6 1 8 1 25 1 20

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

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

Rank 10110210310410510610910121015101810201021Words பத்துநூறுஆயிரம்பத்தாயிரம்நூறாயிரம்மெய்யிரம்தொள்ளுண்ஈகியம்நெளைஇளஞ்சிவெள்ளம்ஆம்பல்Character Reading pathunūruāyirampattāyiramnūraiyirammeiyyiramtollunīkiyamneļaiiļañciveļļamāmpal

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

Tamil units of measurement

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