Measurements In Ancient South India

Measurements in ancient Tamil-speaking South India were widely different from modern day metric and imperial systems. These ancient measurement systems spanned systems of counting, distances, volumes, time, weight as well as tools used to do so. While India is one of the countries to use the metric system International System of Units (Tamil Nadu state included), some of these older day measurement systems, especially those of counting are used in the present day.

There are several similarities between the measurement system used in Tamil Nadu and that used by the Indus Valley civilisation.

 

Units of time in ancient Tamil history

• 12 (base 8) or 10 kuzhigaL = 1 miy = 66.6666 millisecond-the time taken by the young human eyes to flap once.
• 2 kaNNimaigaL (கண்ணிமைகள்) = 1 kainodi (கைநொடி) = 0.125 second
• 2 kainodi = 1 maatthirai (மாத்திரை) = 0.25 second
• 6 (base 8) or 6 miygaL = 1 siRRuzhi (nodi) சிற்றுழி (நொடி) = 0.40 second-the time taken for a bubble (created by blowing air through a bamboo tube into a vessel 1 saaN high, full of water) to travel a distance of one saaN (சாண்).
• 2 maatthiraigaL = 1 kuru (குறு) = 0.50 second
• 2 (base 8) or 2 nodigaL = 1 vinaadi வினாடி = 0.80 second-the time for the adult human heart to beat once
• 2¹⁄₂ nodigaL = 2 kuru = 1 uyir உயிர் = 1 second
• 5 nodigaL = 2 uyir = 1 saNigam சாணிகம் = 1/2 aNu அணு = 2 seconds
• 12 (base 8) or 10 nodigaL = 1 aNu = 4 seconds
• 6 (base 8) or 6 aNukkaL = 12 saNigam = 1 thuLi துளி = 1 naazhigai-vinaadi நாழிகை வினாடி = 24 seconds
• 12 (base 8) or 10 thuLigaL = 1 kaNam கணம் = 4 minutes
• 6 (base 8) or 6 kaNangaL = 1 naazhigai= 24 minutes
• 12 (base 8) or 10 naazhigaigaL = 4 saamam சாமம் = 1 siRupozhuthu சிறுபொழுது = 240 minutes = 4 hours
• 6 (base 8) or 6 siRu-pozhuthugaL = 1 naaL நாள் (1 day) = 24 hours
• 7 naaTkaL = 1 kizhamai கிழமை (1 week)
• 15 naaTkaL = 1 azhuvam அழுவம் (1 fortnight)
• 29.5 naaTkaL = 1 thingaL திங்கள் (1 lunar month)
• 2 thingaL = 1 perum-pozhuthu பெரும்பொழுது (1 season)
• 6 perum-pozhuthugaL = 1 AaNdu (1 year)
• 64 aaNdugaL = 1 vattam வட்டம் (1 cycle)
• 4096 (=8^4) AaNdugaL = 1 Oozhi ஊழி (1 epoch)

Area Measurement

• 1 Marakkal vaedaipadu (seeds required for planting rice) = 8 cents
• 12.5 Marakkal vaedaipadu = 100 cents (one acre)

குறுணி = 8 cents
பதக்கு = 16 cents
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 Veesam = 6*6 sq ft = 36 sq ft
• 1 Kuzhi = 4 Veesams
• 1 Kuzhi = 144 sq ft
• 1 Kuzhi = 0.331 cents
• 1 Kāni = 400 kuzhis
• 1 acre = 436 kuzhi
• 1 ankanam = 8 sq yd/72 sq ft
• 1 Mā = 100 kuzhi = 10000 sq ft (Not 10000 sq ft but 14400 sq ft When 1 Kuzhi = 144 sq ft)
• 1 Kāni = 4 Mā = 40000 sq ft (Not 40000 sq ft but 57600 sq ft)
• 1 kāni = 132 cents = 1.32 acre
• 1 acre = 75.625 kuzhi
• 1 Veļi = 7 kāni = 6.43 acres = 2.6 hectares (1 Veli = 20 Ma = 5 kani only not 7 kani)
• 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

Units of ancient trade/ Balance weights/Gold weights

• 4 nel edai (நல் எடை) = 1 kunRimaNi (குன்றிமணி)
• 2 kunRimaNi (குன்றிமணி) = 1 manchaadi (மாஞ்சாடி)
• 1 manchaadi (மாஞ்சாடி) = 1 paNavedai (பணவெடை)
• 5 paNavedai (பணவெடை) = 1 kazhanchu (கழஞ்சு)
• 8 paNavedai (பணவெடை) = 1 varaaganedai (வராகனெடை)
• 20 paNavedai (பணவெடை) = 4 kazhanchu(கழஞ்சு) = 1 kaqhsu (கஃசு)
• 80 paNavedai (பணவெடை)= 16 kazhanchu(கழஞ்சு)= 4 kaqhsu (கஃசு)= 1 palam (பலம்)
• 1.5 Kazhanchu (கழஞ்சு) = 8 grams or one sovereign/pavun.

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

Goods weights

• 32 kunRimaNi = 1 varaaganedai
• 10 varaaganedai = 1 palam
• 40 palam = 1 veesai
• 1000 palam = 1 kaa
• 6 veesai = 1 thulaam
• 8 veesai = 1 maNangu
• 20 maNangu = 1 paaram.

Grain volume

• 1 kuNam = smallest unit of volume
• 9 kuNam = 1 mummi
• 11 mummi = 1 aNu
• 7 aNu = 1 immi
• 7 immi = 1 uminel
• 1 sittigai = 7 uminel
• 360 nel = 1 sevidu
• 5 sevidu = 1 aazhaakku
• 2 aazhaakku = 1 uzhakku
• 2 uzhakku = 1 uri
• 2 uri = 1 padi
• 8 padi = 1 marakkaal(kuRuNi)
• 2 marakkaal (kuRuNi) = 1 padhakku
• 2 padhakku = 1 thooNi
• 5 marakkaal = 1 paRai
• 80 paRai = 1 karisai
• 48 padi = 1 kalam
• 96 padi = 1 pothi (mootai)
• 21 marakkal = 1 Kottai
• 22 maakaani = 100 g

1 padi = 1800  avarai pods = 12,800 miLagu seeds = 14,400 nel grains = 14,800 payaRu grains = 38,000 arisi grains = 115,200 sesame seeds

Fluid volume

• 5 sevidu = 1 aazhaakku
• 2 mahani = 1 aazhakku (arai kal padi)
• 2 aazhaakku = 1 uzhakku (Kal padi)
• 2 uzhakku = 1 uri (Arai padi)
• 2 uri = 1 padi
• 8 padi= 1 marakkaal
• 2 marakkaal (kuRuNi) = 1 padhakku
• 2 padhakku = 1 thooNi
• 21 Marakkal = 1 Kottai

Length

• 1 Koan = (115.8953125 picometre)
• 10 Koan = 1 Nunnanu (0.1158953125 nanometre)
• 10 Nunnanu = 1 Anu (atom) (1.158953125 nanometre)
• 8 Anu = 1 Kadhirthugal (9.271625 nanometre)
• 8 Kadhirthugal = 1 Thusumbu (74.173 nanometre)
• 8 Thusumbu = 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 aNu (atom) = 1.9444 centimetre
• 12 viral = 1 saaN = 100 immi= 23.3333 centimetre
• 2 saaN = 1 muzham = 46.6666 centimetre
• 2 muzham = 1 kajam
• 220 kajam = 1 furlong
• 8 furlong = 1 mile
• 5 furlong = 1 kilometre or 1000 metre
• 4 muzham = 1 paagam
• 625 paagam = 1 kaadham = 5000 saaN = 1166.66 metres = 1.167 kilometre

Tamil texts elaborate the following version:

• 1 ONDRU = One = 10 ⁰
• 10 = PATHU = Ten = 10 ¹
• 100 = NOORU = Hundred = 10 ²
• 1,000 = AAYIRAM = One Thousand = 10 ³
• 10,000 = PATHAAYIRAM = 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 = ARPUTHAM = One Billion = 10 ⁹
• 10,00,00,00,000 = PATHU ARPUTHAM = Ten Billion = 10 ¹⁰
• 1,00,00,00,00,000 = NIGARPUTHAM = Hundred Billion = 10 ¹¹
• 10,00,00,00,00,000 = PATHU NIGARPUTHAM = One Trillion = 10 ¹²
• 1,00,00,00,00,00,000 = KUMBAM = Ten Trillion = 10 ¹³
• 10,00,00,00,00,00,000 = PATHU 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 = PATHU 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 = PATHU NIKARPAM = Hundred Quintillion = 10 ²⁰
• 1,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,000 = PATHUMAM = One Sextillion = 10 ²¹
• 10,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,000 = PATHU PATHUMAM = 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 = PATHU 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 = PATHU 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 = PATHU 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 = PATHU PARARTTAM = Hundred Nonillion = 10 ³²
• 1,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,000 = POORIYAM = One Decillion = 10 ³³
• 10,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,000 = PATHU POORIYAM = 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=PATHUMUKKODI= OneUndecillion = 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

Fractions

• 1 = onRu
• 3/4 = mukkaal
• 1/2 = arai / paadhi
• 1/4 = kaal
• 1/5 = naalumaa
• 3/16 = mummaahani or mundaani (மும்மாகாணி/முண்டாணி)
• 3/20 = moonRumaa
• 1/8 = araikkaal
• 1/10 = irumaa
• 1/16 = maakaaNi (மாகாணி)
• 1/20 = orumaa
• 3/64 = mukkaal veesam
• 3/80 = mukkaaN
• 1/32 = araimaakaani (அரைமாகாணி)
• 1/40 = araimaa
• 1/64 = kaal maakani (கால்மாகாணி)
• 1/80 = kaaNi
• 3/320 = araikkaaNi munthiri
• 1/160 = araikkaaNi
• 1/320 = munthiri
• 1/102,400 = keezh munthiri
• 1/2,150,400 = immi
• 1/23,654,400 = mummi
• 1/165,580,800 = aNu
• 1/1,490,227,200 = kuNam
• 1/7,451,136,000 = pantham
• 1/44,706,816,000 = sggtta
• 1/312,947,712,000 = vintham
• 1/5,320,111,104,000 = naagavintham
• 1/74,481,555,456,000 = sinthai
• 1/1,489,631,109,120,000 = kathirmunai
• 1/59,585,244,364,800,000 = kuralvaLaippidi
• 1/3,575,114,661,888,000,000 = veLLam
• 1/357,511,466,188,800,000,000 = nuNNmaNl
• 1/2,323,824,530,227,200,000,000 = thaertthugaL

 

Ancient Indian Measurement Units

Ancient Tamilians Measurement Of Capacity

1 aazhaakku     = 168 ml
1 uzhakku          = 336 ml
1 kalam              = 64.5 litre
1 thooni              = 21.5 litre
1 nei karandi     = 1 table spoon
1 ennai karandi = 240 ml
1 paalaadai       =30 ml
1 kuppi               = 700 ml
1 ounce              =31 g

360 nel          =1 soadu (33.6 ml)
5 soadu         = 1 aazhaakku
2 aazhaakku = 1 uzhakku
2 uzhakku      =1 uri
2 uri                = 1 naazhi
8 naazhi         = 1 kuruni
2 kuruni          =1 pathakku
2 pathakku    =1 thooni
3 thooni         =1 kalam

Measure of Weighing

3.75  kunri mani edai  = 1 panavedai
32 kunri mani edai      = 1 viraagan edai
10 viraagan edai        = 1 palam
8 palam                       = 1 saer
40 palam                    =1 veesai
50 palam                    =1 thookku
2 thookku                   = 1 thulaam

1 kunri mani edai   = 130 mg
1 panavedai           = 487.5 mg
1 thoala                   = 12 g (accurately 11.7 g)
1 palam                   = 35 g
1 veesai                  = 1400 g
1 viraagan               =4 g

Ancient Tamilians Measure of Time

24 minutes  = 1 naazhigai
Two and half naazhigai =1 mani (1 hour)
Three and three quarter naazhigai = 1 muhurtham
60 naazhigai =1 naal (1 day)
seven and half naazhigai= 1 saamam
1 saamam = 3 hour
8 saamam = 1 day
4 saamam  = 1 pozhuthu
2 pozhuthu  =1 day
15 days       = 1 pakkam
2 pakkam   = 1 maatham
6 maatham = 1 ayanam
2 ayanam   = 1 aandu (1 year)
60 year       = 1 vattam

 Ayurvedic Measurements 

60 Grain = 1 Dravm = 3.888 Gram.
3 Dravm = 1 Thoola = 11.664 Gram.
40 Thoola = 1 Ratal = 466 Gram.
1 Grain = 64.83 Panameda = 65 Milligram.
6 Grain = 1 Panameda = 389 Milligram.
12.5 Panameda = 1.25 Dram = 1 Kazanj = 4.860 Gram.
30 Panameda = 1 Thoola = 2.5 Kazanj = 11.664 Gram.
75 Kazanj = 1 Shanam = 3.645 Milligram.
2 Shanam (1.5 Kazanj) = 1 Koolam = 7.290 Gram.
2 Koolam (3 Kazanj) = 1 Karsham (1.25 Toola) = 14.580 Gram.
2 Karsham (6 Kazanj) = 1 Shuketi (2.5 Toola) = 29.160 Gram.
2 Shuketi (12 Kazanj) = 1 Phalam (5 Toola) =58.319 Gram.
2 Phalam (10 Toola) = 1 Prasrutam = 116.638 Gram.
2 Prasrutam (20 Toola) = 1 Kudubam = 233.276 Gram.
2 Kudubam (40 Toola = 1 Ratal) = 1 Saravm = 466.522 Gram.
100 Phalam = 1 Tullam = 12.5 Ratal = 5. 832 Kilogram.


60 Bindu      = 1 Shanam     = 1 Teaspoon = 3.55 ML.
8 Shanam    = 1 Shuketi       = 1 Ounce      = 28.34 ML.
2 Shuketi     = 1 Phalam       = 2 Ounce      = 56.8 ML.
2 Phalam     = 1 Prasrutam  = 4 Ounce      = 1 Uri = 113.64 ML.
2 Prasrutam = 1 Kudubam  = 8 Ounce       = 1 Nazhi = 227.28ML.
2 Kudubam  = 1 Saravam   = 16 Ounce     = 1 Ratal = 455.56 ML.
2 Saravam   = 1 Prastam    = 32 Ounce     = 1 Edazahi = 911.12 ML.

8th century Hindu temple, Pakistan.

THE ALGORITHM GIVEN BY NARAYANA PANDIT (1325-1400 AD)

IS USED IN THE COMMAND next_permutation IN C++ PROGRAMMING LANGUAGE.

 

Nārāyana Pandit was the first who gave a non-recursive algorithm for expansion of partitions of a number. He demonstrated his algorithm which is based on finding the next permutation in lexicographical order. In this algorithm, one has to start by sorting the sequence in increasing order to get its lexicographically minimal solution and repeat advancing to the next permutation as long as one is found. 

 

The algorithm applied by Nārāyana Pandit is:
Step 1 : Find largest index k such a[k] < a[k+1] that ;
Step 2 : Find largest index 1 such that a[k] < a[1]
Step 3 : Swap a[k] and a[1]
Step 4 : Reverse the range a[k+1] to a[n-1]

Two examples given by Narayana Pandit are shown in images enclosed.
-Vedveer Arya ,Indian History Real Truth

Shree Jagannath Das ji

Jagannath Das ji became sadhu in 1944. Traveled all over India and for last four decades staying in his Ashram on the banks of Narmada in Garudeshwar.

At this age he his perfectly self reliant. He walks at good speed with youngsters. Wakes up at 4.00 am daily and is ready for informal interactions with his disciples at 7.00 am. His sharp memory is miracle.

I am currently helping him with some herbal & natural treatment for temporary leg pain. The treatment includes use of medicated mud. And it's giving good results.

All 100+ person's I have met are spiritual people following perfect yogic & ayurvedic lifestyle. Importantly their knowledge doesn't come from books but learnt through experiences and knowledge passed by earlier conscoius generations. Unwavering devotion to god is a common factor in them.

I have been eagerly trying to pass on such knowledge, tips to my beloved friends, people in general. But the acceptance levels are low. Influence of illusion is so powerful. They would like to make their life choices based on opinion of doctors, advertisements, western life patterns. Unfortunately all these have commercial motive.

Institution of conscious health keepers needs to be preserved & promoted.

Salaam to Jagannath Das ji. And the supreme institution of 'sadhus'.

__Shree Yogi Arwind