Editing Malayalam calendar

{{Short description|Sidereal solar calendar used by the Malayali people}}
{{redirect|Midhunam|the Malayalam film|Mithunam (1993 film)|the Telugu film|Mithunam (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 CE), the earliest record to mention the Kollam Era]]
The '''Malayalam Calendar''', or the '''Kollam Era''' ({{langx|ml|കൊല്ലവർഷം|Kollavaṟṣaṁ}}), is a [[Sidereal time|sidereal]] [[Solar calendar|solar]] calendar used in [[Kerala]]. The origin of the calendar has been dated to 825&nbsp;CE, commemorating the establishment of [[Kollam]].<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]] by Maruwan Sapir Iso, who was the leader of Persian Christian Settlers and trading guilds like [[Anjuvannam]] following the liberation of the Kingdom of [[Venad]] from the [[Chola dynasty|Chola]] rule by or with the assistance of the [[Chera Perumal|Chera emperor]] at [[Kodungallur]].<ref>Noburu Karashmia (ed.), ''A Concise History of South India: Issues and Interpretations.'' New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 2014. 89.</ref><ref> Land, 'Brief History of the Syrians of Malabar'. Anedocta Syriaca, I, pp. 27.</ref> The [[Quilon Syrian copper plates]] were grants and privileges given to the trading guilds involved in the establishment of Kollam by [[Sthanu Ravi Varma]].<ref>Sthanu Ravi Varma
Cereti, C. G. (2009). "The Pahlavi Signatures on the Quilon Copper Plates". In Sundermann, W.; Hintze, A.; de Blois, F. (eds.). Exegisti Monumenta: Festschrift in Honour of Nicholas Sims-Williams. Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz. ISBN 978-3-447-05937-4.</ref>

Kollam was the capital of Venadu and an important port town of the Chera Kingdom in that period. Kollam Aandu was adapted in the entire Chera Kingdom (the contemporary states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Kerala), the majority of which is now in Kerala. In [[Malayalam]]-speaking Kerala, it is now called the Malayalam Era or 'Kollavarsham’ (Kollam Thontri Aandu). The earliest available record mentioning the Kollam Era is a royal decree by Sri Vallavan Goda, the King of Venadu, dated to {{Circa|973 CE}} (Kollam Era 149). In the inscription, the phrase "Kollam Thontri Aandu" is employed.<ref name=":0" /> Another era, referred to as "Kollam Aḻintha Aandu", counting from 1097&nbsp;CE, was reckoned by the Cholas for some time. It is tentatively calculated that the Chola overlords captured the [[Port of Quilon|port of Kollam]] in 1097&nbsp;CE.<ref name=":0">{{cite book|last=Narayanan|first= M. G. S.|title= Perumāḷs of Kerala|location= Thrissur (Kerala)|publisher=CosmoBooks|year=2013|pages=74–76, 143}}</ref>

== History ==
The origin of the Kollam Era has been dated to 825&nbsp;CE, when the great convention in Kollam was held at the behest of King Kulashekharan. Kollam was an important town in that period, and the Malayalam Era is called 'Kollavarsham'.

There are multiple conflicting accounts regarding the origins of the Malayalam calendar, some of which are mentioned below:

*According to  legend, 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&nbsp;BCE. Thus, 825&nbsp;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&nbsp;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&nbsp;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, 31 May 2010. DVD.</ref><ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/HaYfoghV-n8 Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20120428125734/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HaYfoghV-n8&gl=US&hl=en Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{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}}{{cbignore}}</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'>{{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 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 <!-- 07:32:45 --> |format=Short History}}</ref>
*It is also believed that the era started as part of erection of the [[Thirupalkadal Sreekrishnaswamy Temple]], family temple of [[Venad]] located at [[Keezhperoor]] or Kil-perur. [[Keezhperoor]] is a 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]].

==Months==

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

== 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
!style="background:gold"| No.
!style="background:gold"| Malayalam
!style="background:gold"| മലയാളം
!style="background:gold"| Sanskrit
!style="background:gold"| English
!style="background:gold"| Kannada
!style="background:gold"| Tamil
!style="background:gold"| Hindi
!style="background:gold"| Arabic
!style="background:gold"| Punjabi 
|-
!style="background:cyan"| '''1.'''
!style="background:cyan"|''ñāyaṟ'' 
!style="background:cyan"| {{lang|ml|ഞായർ}} 
!style="background:cyan"| Bhānu vāsara
!style="background:cyan"| Sunday
!style="background:cyan"| Bhānu vāra
!style="background:cyan"| Nyaayiru (ஞாயிறு)
!style="background:cyan"| Ravivaar/Itvaar
(रविवार/इतवार)
!style="background:cyan"| al-aḥad
!style="background:cyan"| Ravivaar/Aitvaar (ਰਵਿਵਾਰ/ਐਤਵਾਰ)
|-
!style="background:cyan"| '''2.'''
!style="background:cyan"|''tiṅgaḷ'' 
!style="background:cyan"| {{lang|ml|തിങ്കൾ}}
!style="background:cyan"| Sōma vāsara
!style="background:cyan"| Monday
!style="background:cyan"| Sōma vāra
!style="background:cyan"| Thingal (திங்கள்)
!style="background:cyan"| Somvaar
(सोमवार)
!style="background:cyan"| al-ithnayn
!style="background:cyan"| Somvaar 
(ਸੋਮਵਾਰ)
|-
!style="background:cyan"| '''3.'''
!style="background:cyan"|''covva'' 
!style="background:cyan"| {{lang|ml|ചൊവ്വ}} 
!style="background:cyan"| Maṅgal̥a vāsara
!style="background:cyan"| Tuesday
!style="background:cyan"| Maṅgal̥a vāra
!style="background:cyan"| Chevvai (செவ்வாய்)
!style="background:cyan"| Mangalvaar
(मङ्गलवार)
!style="background:cyan"| al-thalāthāʾ
!style="background:cyan"| Mangalvaar (ਮੰਗਲਵਾਰ)
|-
!style="background:cyan"| '''4.'''
!style="background:cyan"|''budhaṉ''
!style="background:cyan"| {{lang|ml|ബുധൻ}}
!style="background:cyan"| Budha vāsara
!style="background:cyan"| Wednesday
!style="background:cyan"| Budha vāra
!style="background:cyan"| Budhan (புதன்)
!style="background:cyan"| Budhvaar
(बुधवार)
!style="background:cyan"| al-arbaʿā
!style="background:cyan"| Budhvaar 
(ਬੁਧਵਾਰ)
|-
!style="background:cyan"| '''5.'''
!style="background:cyan"|''vyāḻam'' 
!style="background:cyan"| {{lang|ml|വ്യാഴം}}
!style="background:cyan"| Guru vāsara
!style="background:cyan"| Thursday
!style="background:cyan"| Guru vāra
!style="background:cyan"| Vyazhan (வியாழன்)
!style="background:cyan"| Guruvaar/Brihaspativaar
(गुरूवार/बृहस्पतिवार)
!style="background:cyan"| al-khamīs
!style="background:cyan"| Guruvaar/Veervaar
(ਗੁਰੂਵਾਰ/ਵੀਰਵਾਰ)
|-
!style="background:cyan"| '''6.'''
!style="background:cyan"|''veḷḷi'' 
!style="background:cyan"| {{lang|ml|വെള്ളി}}
!style="background:cyan"| Śukra vāsara
!style="background:cyan"| Friday
!style="background:cyan"| Śukra vāra
!style="background:cyan"| Velli (வெள்ளி)
!style="background:cyan"| Shukravaar
(शुक्रवार)
!style="background:cyan"| al-jumuʿah
!style="background:cyan"| Shukarvaar
(ਸ਼ੁਕਰਵਾਰ)
|-
!style="background:cyan"| '''7.'''
!style="background:cyan"|''śaṉi'' 
!style="background:cyan"| {{lang|ml|ശനി}}
!style="background:cyan"| Śani vāsara
!style="background:cyan"| Saturday
!style="background:cyan"| Śani vāra
!style="background:cyan"| Sani<br />(சனி)
!style="background:cyan"| Shanivaar
(शनिवार)
!style="background:cyan"| al-sabt
!style="background:cyan"| 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]] (1st day of ''Medam'' month): Malayali New Year (traditional)
*[[Vishu|Pathamudayam]] (10th day of ''Medam'' month)
*Ramayana Masam (whole month of ''Karkidakam'')
*[[Karkidaka vavu|Karkidaka Vavu]] (month of ''Karkidakam''): Rituals performed to honour ancestors
*[[Kerala New Year (Kollam era)|''Chingam'' Onnu]]: Malayali New Year (as per the Kollam Era calendar)
*[[Onam]] (month of ''Chingam''): Annual Harvest and Cultural Festival
*[[Ganesh Chaturthi|Vinayaka Chaturthi]] (month of ''Chingam''): Birth of Lord Ganesha
*[[Krishna Janmashtami|Sri Krishna Janmashtami]] (month of ''Chingam''): Birth of Lord Krishna
*[[Navaratri]] (month of ''Kanya''): Saraswati Puja and Vidyarambham 
*[[Deepavali]] (month of ''Thulam''): Festival of Lights
*[[Guruvayur Ekadasi|Guruvayur Ekadashi]] (month of ''Vrishchikam''): Festival related to Guruvayur Temple
*[[Karthika Deepam|Thrikarthika]] (month of ''Vrishchikam''): Festival of Lights
*[[Thiruvathira]] (month of ''Dhanu''): Nakshatra (Star) of Lord Shiva
*[[Makaravilakku]] (1st day of ''Makaram'' month): Festival related to Sabarimala Temple
*Makara Bharani (month of ''Makaram''): Festival related to Devi
*[[Thaipusam|Thaipooyam]] (month of ''Makaram''): Festival related to Lord Murugan
*[[Maha Shivaratri]] (month of Kumbham): Festival related to Lord Shiva

[[Vishu]] ({{lang|ml|വിഷു}}), celebrated on the first day of ''Medam'', ''[[Onam]]'' ({{lang|ml|ഓണം}}), celebrated on the star Thiruvonam {{IPA|ml|t̪iruʋoːɳəm|}} on the first day of ''Chingam'', and [[Deepavali]] ({{lang|ml|ദീപാവലി}}), celebrated on the first day of ''Thulam'', are three of the major festivals.  The first day of ''Chingam'' is celebrated as the [[Kerala New Year (Kollam era)|Kerala New Year]], replacing Vishu ({{lang|ml|വിഷു}}), which was considered the beginning of a year until 825&nbsp;CE. Vishu is still celebrated as the traditional Malayali New Year, as it is astronomically significant, 'Medam' being the first among the 12 rashis (the [[zodiac]] signs corresponding to the 12 months of a solar year).{{fact|date=July 2022}}. Deepavali is traditionally celebrated during Thulam which is the months of October and November.

The [[Makaravilakku]] festival is celebrated in the [[Ayyappan|Ayyappa]] Temple at [[Sabarimala]] on the first day of ''Makaram'' month. 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 21 June, and the winter solstice on 21 December).{{fact|date=July 2022}}

Chaitram 1 (usually coinciding with 20 March) or Medam 1 (mostly coinciding with 14 April, for 2019 it was on 15 April), both in the proximity of the date of the vernal equinox (21 March), mark the beginning of the new year in many traditional Indian calendars such as the [[Indian national calendar]] and the [[Tamil calendar]]. When the [[Government of Kerala]] adopted Kolla Varsham as the regional calendar, the first 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 ''Edavappathi'', meaning mid of month ''Edavam''. 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).{{fact|date=July 2022}}

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

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{commons category|Malayalam calendar}}
* [https://www.obidostech.com/malayalam-calendar/ Free Malayalam Calendar for Android and iPhone without download]
* [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]
* [https://kollavarsham.org/ Open Source software libraries for Malayalam Calendar]
{{Portal bar|India}}{{calendars}}
{{Kollam}}

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