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 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

Unit	Divisions	Equivalent	Notes
1 குழிகள்	none	6 milliseconds
1 கண்ணிமைகள்	none	62.5 milliseconds
1 மிய்	10 குழிகள்	66 milliseconds	The time taken by the young human eyes to blink once
1 கைநொடி	2 கண்ணிமைகள்	0.125 seconds
1 மாத்திரை	2 கைநொடி	0.25 seconds
1 சிற்றுழி	6 மிய்கள்	0.4 seconds	The time taken for a bubble to travel a distance of 1 சாண்
1 குறு	2 மாத்திரைகள்	0.5 seconds
1 வினாடி	2 நொடிகள்	0.8 seconds	The time taken by the adult human heart to beat once
1 உயிர்	2 குறு	1 second
1 சாணிகம்	2 உயிர்	2 seconds
1 அணு	2 சாணிகம்	4 seconds
1 துளி	6 அணுக்கள்	24 seconds
1 நாழிகை வினாடி	6 அணுக்கள்	24 seconds
1 கணம்	10 துளிகள்	4 minutes
1 நாழிகை	6 கணங்கள்	24 minutes
1 சாமம்	15 கணம்	1 hour
1 சிறுபொழுது	4 சாமம்	4 hours
1 நாள்	6 சிறுபொழுதுகள்	1 day
1 வாரம்	7 நாட்கள்	1 week
1 அழுவம்	15 நாட்கள்	15 days
1 திங்கள்	none	1 lunar month
1 பெரும்பொழுது	2 திங்கள்	2 lunar months
1 ஆண்டு	6 பெரும்பொழுது	1 year
1 வட்டம்	64 ஆண்டுகள்	64 years	1 cycle
1 ஊழி	64 வட்டம்	4,096 years	1 epoch

Units of area

Unit	Divisions	Equivalent	Notes
1 தாக்கு	none	7.56 square feet
1 sq கஜம்	none	of a cent
1 வீசம்	none	36 square feet
1 குழி	4 வீசம்	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	6.25 cents	In Varaku Culture
1 மரக்கால் விதைப்பது	none	8 cents	area required for planting rice
1 குறுணி	none	8 cents
1 பதக்கு	2 மரக்கால் விதைப்பது or 2 குறுணி	16 cents
1 முக்குறுணி	3 மரக்கால் விதைப்பது or 3 குறுணி	24 cents
1 மா	100 குழி	1,600 square yards
1 காணி	4 மா	6,400 square yards
1 வேலி	5 காணி	32,000 square yards
none	16	1 acre	In Jaffna, Sri Lanka
none	16	1 acre	In Varaku Culture
none	24	1 acre	In Paddy Culture

Units of ancient trade

Balance weights

Unit	Divisions	Equivalent	Notes
1 நல் எடை	none	-	-
1 குன்றிமணி	4 நல் எடை	-	-
1 மஞ்சாடி	2 குன்றிமணி	-	-
1 பணவெடை	2 குன்றிமணி	-	-
1 கழஞ்சு	5 பணவெடை	-	-
1 வராகனெடை	8 பணவெடை	-	-
1 கஃசு	4 கழஞ்சு	-	-
1 பலம்	4 கஃசு	-	-

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
2 marakkāl = 1 padakku
2 padakku = 1 tōṇi
3 tōṇi = 1 kalam
5 marakkāl = 1 paṟai
80 paṟai = 1 karisai
96 padi = 1 pothi
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
2 āḻākku = 1 uḻakku
2 uḻakku = 1 uri
2 uri = 1 padi
4 padi= 1 marakkaal
2 marakkāl = 1 padakku
2 padakku = 1 tōṇi
21 Marakkal = 1 Kottai

Length

1 Koan =
10 Koan = 1 Nunnanu
10 Nunnanu = 1 Aṇu
8 Aṇu = 1 Kadirtugal
8 Kadirtugal = 1 Tusumbu
8 Tusumbu = 1 Mayirnuni
8 Mayirnuni = 1 Nunnmanal
8 Nunnmanal = 1 Siru-kadugu
8 Siru-kadugu = 1 Yel
8 Yel = 1 Nel
8 nel = 1 viral = 8^8 aṇu = 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 = 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

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 – mākāṇi
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 = 0.9 grain
8 paṟkaḷ = 1 senkāṇi = 7.2 grains
1/4 senkāṇi = 1 kālkāṇi = 1.8 grains
64 paṟkaḷ = 1 KaaNap-pon aka. Kāsu panam = 57.6 grains
1 Roman dinarium was traded on par with 2 Kāṇappon plus 1 Senkāṇi.
18 Ana = 2.85 Rupee, 16 Ana = 1 Rupee, 1 Ana = 3 Tuṭu, 1/4 Ana = 3/4 tuṭu

Divisions of a Day

சிறுபொழுது

1. மாலை : 6 pm-10 pm

2. இடையாமம் : 10 pm-2 am

3. வைகறை : 2 am-6 am

4. காலை : 6 am-10 am

5. நண்பகல் : 10 am-2 pm

6. எற்பாடு : 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