Malayalam calendar

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Malayalam calendar (also known as Malayalam Era or Kollavarsham) is a solar Sidereal calendar used in the state of Kerala in South India. The era started in the year 825 AD.The origin of Kollam Era been dated as being 824 A.D. being the great convention in Kollam at the behest of raja Stanu Ravi Gupta .The Malayalam Era named after Quilon began in 824 AD. Malayalam Era is called 'Kolla Varsham' after Kollam, because of the importance of Kollam in the 9th century A.D. It signified the independence of Malabar from the Cheraman Perumals. (Reference: Travancore Manual page 244). King Stanu Ravi Gupta of Kollam, granted the copper plate grants in 824 A.D. to Mar Sapor Iso whom he invited to Kollam and transferring to the Tarasa Church and Essene namboothiri community at Thevalakara in Quilon, lands near the city with hereditament of low caste. (Reference: Travancore Manual page 244).. scholars believe that this conference was called by King Stanu Ravi Gupta for the consecration of Thevalakara orthodox church following debate among the namboothiri community on their belief between Namboothiri's who believed in christ as the Messiah or praja pathi but continued in their vedic tradition including Sun Worship and the other section backing the version put forward by Adi Shankara in Advaita Vedanta in early 9th century that christ(isha) and shiva is one and the difference is only caused between Aramic and Pali language.However it should be particularly noted that kolla varsham resulted in the origin of Christianity in kerala as an individual religion outside vedic hinduism as till that time only four namboothiri families namely Kaliankal at Nillakal,paklomattam at palyoor,shankarapuri at niranam and kalli at kokkamangalam were allowed priesthood inside Christianity.

[edit] Months

The months are named after the constellations of the zodiac. Thus Chingam (from Simham or Lion) is named after the constellation Leo and so on. The following are the months of the astronomical Malayalam calendar:

[edit] Days

The days of the week in the Malayalam calendar are suffixed with Azhcha (ആഴ്ച - week).

Like the months above, there are twenty seven stars starting from Aswathi (Ashvinī in Sanskrit) and ending in Revatī. The 365 days of the year are divided into groups of fourteen days called Njattuvela, each one bearing the name of a star.

[edit] Significant dates

The festivals Andupirapp (ആണ്ടുപിറപ്പ് - new year), celebrated on the 1st of Chingam, Vishu (വിഷു - astronomical new year), celebrated on the 1st of Medam and Onam (ഓണം), celebrated on the star tiruʋoːɳəm in the month of Chingam, are three of the major festivals.

The Makaravilakku festival is celebrated in the Ayyappa Temple at Sabarimala on the 1st day of month Makaram. This marks the grand finale of the two-month period to the Sabarimala pilgrimage.

[edit] Derived names

Many events in Kerala are related to the dates in the Malayalam calendar.

The agricultural activities of Kerala are centred around the seasons. The Southwest monsoon which starts around June 1 is known as Edavappathi, meaning mid-Edavam. The North east 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.

[edit] Notes

[edit] See also

• Hindu calendar
• Bengali calendar
• Tamil calendar

[edit] External links

• Deepika Calendar Commonly used Malayalam Calendar with both normal (Julian) calendar, the Malayalam calendar and other details sun rise and set times, holidays etc.
• 111 Years Malayalam Calendar Malayalam Calendar for Kolla Varsham 1076-1186(1900-2010 A.D.) showing important festivals, events and date conversion to Gregorian format.
• Malayalam Calendar This calendar gives details about Kerala holidays, Kerala festivals and religious days. It also includes the Malayalam months and days.