தமிழ் புத்தாண்டு வாழ்த்துக்கள்!

[Ramaa]

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தமிழ் புத்தாண்டு வாழ்த்துக்கள்!

அன்பர்களுக்கு மனமார்ந்த தமிழ் புத்தாண்டு வாழ்த்துக்கள்!

ரமா

I received a unique greeting from my friend Haranji and it is worth posting it here.

[FONT=&quot]TAMIL NEW YEAR - “KALAIGNAR” DOES A “THUGLAK”![/FONT][FONT=&quot]
Introduction: -

While inaugurating the much hyped cultural festival “Chennai Sangamam” organized by his daughter & Rajya Sabha MP Ms.Kanimozhi on the 10th of January 2008, the Chief Minister Mr.Karunanidhi had indicated that the ‘Tamil New Year’ woul d be celebrated on the first day of Tamil Month THAI (Pongal Day) instead of the first day of the month CHITHIRAI (Varusha Pirappu) from the next year onwards. He had also said that an official announcement would follow soon. As committed, during the inaugural session of the assembly on 23rd January 2008, Governor Barnala in his customary address had said that, the first day of Tamil month ‘Thai’ would be celebrated as Tamil New Year Day and that, the Tamils could celebrate ‘Pongal’ and ‘New Year’ on the same day. Consequently On [/FONT][FONT=&quot]January 29, 2008[/FONT][FONT=&quot], Mr. Karunanidhi tabled the “Tamil Nadu Tamil New Year Day Declaration Bill” and an ordinance to that effect was also passed on [/FONT][FONT=&quot]the 1st of February 2008[/FONT][FONT=&quot] by the Dravidian Assembly, which was conducted only for a short period of ten days. Contrary to the belief of the Dravidian leaders, the people of the state do not seem to be enthused by this proclamation and they have simply ignored it as yet another politically motivated Dravidian stunt enacted in the name of Tamil. [/FONT][FONT=&quot]

Dravidian Movement: -

The Dravidian Movement was started with the sole objective of achieving “Independent Tamil Nadu” (Thani Thamizh Nadu) separated from the National Mainstream, which later got diluted to the theme of “Autonomy Rule in State; [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Alliance[/FONT][FONT=&quot] Rule in Center” (Maanilathil Suyatchi; Maddhiyil Kootatchi) and finally reached the status of “[/FONT][FONT=&quot]Alliance[/FONT][FONT=&quot] Rule” in the state itself.[/FONT][FONT=&quot] It goes to prove that the so-called Dravidianism is waning. The history of Dravidian movement shows that many of the policy decisions taken by the Dravidian governments in the last forty years in the names of Tamil, social reform, social justice, secularism, etc, have ended up as mere political stunts. The present decision of the state government to declare Pongal Day, the first day of the month ‘THAI’, as Tamil New Year Day is also likely to fall, not only in the same category of political stunts but also in the category of political jokes! [/FONT][FONT=&quot]

T he Dravidian Movement’s objective of separating Tamil Nadu from the National mainstream was approached through the spectrum of the so-called ‘Aryan Invasion’ theory, with the help of anti-Sanskrit and anti-Brahminism strategies. The hidden agenda actually was to alienate the Tamils from the Hindu fold. The attempts to conduct the consecration of Temples in Tamil instead of Sanskrit by using “Tamil Hymns” (totally irrelevant to consecration rituals) in place of “Vedic slokas” (very relevant and meaningfully connected with the rituals), introduction of Tamil Archanas (utter failure) and the attempt to train men from all castes for the job of ‘Archagas’ (a colossal failure), were all in tune with those strategies. The desecration of Lord Ganesh & Lord Ram Deities, saying that they are Brahmin Gods and garlanding them with ‘foot-wears’ & ‘broomsticks’, were also a part of such strategies. This ugly strategy gave an exactly opposite impact resulting in the appearance of numerous small & exclusive Pillayar Koils (Ganesh Temples) in each and every street of Tamil Nadu, and every function, whether it is cultural or religious or domestic, commencing with ‘Ganapathi Homam’. This also resulted in the increase of ‘Rama Nama Sangeerthanam Satsangs’ (singing of Bajans in the name of Rama) in the state.

Festivals and Calendars: -

As every festival celebrated by the Tamil Hindus is culturally & religiously associated with the Hindu tradition, similar to the other linguistic Hindu communities, the Dravidian politicians found it very difficult to separate the people from the Hindu fold. In the meantime, the Bakthi Movement has increased in manifolds, thanks to Sabarimala Pilgrimage, Sai Baba foundation, Ramakrishna Mutt activities, Bangaru Adigal’s Melmaruvathur Adiparasakthi Movement, etc, and the TempleAdministrations through out the state are now unable to cope with the swelling crowds on every festivals and auspicious days.

While all the Hindu festivals like Diwali, Rama Navami, Krishna Jayanthi, Ganesh Chathurthi, Vijaya Dhasami, Navrathri, etc, are celebrated in the same name through out the country on the same day, a few festivals like Shankaranthi and New Year are celebrated in different names based on the regional flavour, but the timing will be the same all over the country. While Makar Shankaranthi is celebrated on the first day of Utharayan as Pongal (Tamil month Thai), the New Year is celebrated as “Varusha Pirappu” on the first day of the Tamil Month ‘Chithirai’. The same is celebrated as Yugadhi, Vishu, Baisakhi, etc in respective states. This is the centuries old Religious / Cultural Tradition of this Great Hindu Nation faithfully followed by the people. This “Divine Culture” is the ‘fulcrum’ of the concept called “Unity in Diversity”, which integrates the people of this Great Hindu Nation!

The Hindu calendar is based on astronomical data and planetary systems and time calculations based on the movements of the Sun and the Moon. There are two Hindu calendars, one based on Sun (Saura Maanam) and the other based on Moon(Chanthra Maanam). These calendars have been conceived and brought out meticulously by our ancient ‘Rishis’ and ‘Munivars’ with solid principles of foundation. While the Hindus world over, follow either of the two calendars, the major South Indian states (TN, AP, Kerala & Karnataka) follow the ‘Sun’ based system.

A Tamil calendar has been in place for centuries by renaming the Sanskritised names in to Tamil names. As per the Hindu calendar, 12 stars find a place in the names of twelve months and the particular day of the month on which the concerned star descends, would be the Full Moon (Pournami) day. For example, the Pushya star descending day of Pushya month is celebrated as Pushya Pournima (Thai Poosam in Tamil) and Chithrai star descending day in Chithrai month is celebrated as Chithra Pournami. Interestingly, the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister had said that the government has no idea of changing the names of the months.

Unanswerable Questions: -
[/FONT][FONT=&quot]The present decision of the state government to change the New Year’s Day from ‘Chi thrai’ month to ‘Thai’ month inevitably invites a number of questions. Will the government cancel the holiday for the first day of Chithrai month? Will the government cancel the holiday for January First as the Christians are celebrating New Year on that day? Will the government cancel the holiday for Moharram, which is celebrated by Muslims in the first month of Arabic Calendar after the Hajiri New Year day? What will be the government’s stand on the New Year celebration of Arabic calendar & English calendar? Will the government say that the Christians and Muslims of Tamil Nadu celebrating New Year as per the English & Arabic calendars respectively are NOT Tamils? Will the government enact another farce called “Samathuva Varusha Pirappu” (Egalitarian New Year) similar to the previously enacted farce called “Samathuva Pongal (Egalitarian Pongal) with two or three Minority, Dravidian and Atheist leaders? The Tamil New Year is also involved in [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Temple[/FONT][FONT=&quot] traditions and it is celebrated as “Chithirai Thiruvizha” (Chithra Festival) in many parts of the state. Will the government cancel all those celebrations? What is the objective of the state government and what is that it is going to achieve because of this change? What is that the people are going to benefit because of this change? In what way the language of Tamil is going to be benefited or glorified by this move? [/FONT][FONT=&quot]

It was mentioned in the Governor’s address in the last Assembly Session that, in the year 1921, over 500 Scholars under the leadership of “Maraimalai Adigal” had met in Pachayapas College in Chennai on the auspices of “Pure Tamil Movement” and decided that Tamils needed a separate calendar and wanted a new era started in the name of Thiruvalluvar and that, based on this fact, the government had made this “revolutionary” decision! Again, this revolutionary decision invites some questions. Who are those 500 scholars, who met under the auspices of “Pure Tamil Movement” and under the leadership of Maraimalar Adigal in 1921? How qualified are they and do they have the authority to change the traditions? Why was the state government sleeping for all these 87 years? Mr.Karunanidhi was the CM previously for four times and why he didn’t make this change then?

[/FONT][FONT=&quot] (will continue in next posting)
[/FONT]

 

[appaiah]

மனமார்ந்த தமிழ் புத்தாண்டு வாழ்த்துக்கள்!

Regards

Appaiah

 

[Ramaa]

contd. from my last post.


Does the government mean to say that those scholars (the likes of Agasthiyar, Tholkappiyar, Kambar, Nayanmars, Alwars, et al including Thiruvalluvar) who celebrated first day of Chithirai as New Year previously for thousands of years, and those scholars who were there before the time of Maraimalai Adigal are NOT “True & Pure” Tamil Scholars? Ironically, Thiruvalluvar, a firm believer in God and a staunch follower of Sanatana Dharma, was never believed to have had any intentions of changing the system of Hindu calendars. After all, he was also and is still acclaimed as a ‘Riashi’ or ‘Siddhar’ by the Tamil Hindus! As the Chithirai New Year is connected with the TempleTraditions, how can a ‘secular’ government alter the traditions especially when the HR & CE rules do not permit such changes and require maintaining status quo on such matters? What i s the necessity for an unwanted & unnecessary change like this? Are there any vested interests behind this move? Is there any conflict of interests in this move?

It is very unfortunate that the Honourable Governor who must be aware of the fact that the ‘New Year’ is celebrated based on Hindu Calendars through out the country including Punjab, had to “Read” this naive point also in his customary address. One wonders whether he is aware of his “Residual Powers” through which he could have asked the state government to refrain from this move, or at least, remove this point from his address!

The Felicitation: -

On Saturday, the 9th of February, a motley group of chauvinistic “scholars”, in the name of “Sanga Tamizh Peravai” felicitated the Chief Minister for his “revolutionary” move of making first day of Thai month as the Tamil New Year Day. It must be noted that some of the modern ‘scholars’ associated with this ‘Sanga Tamizh Peravai’ are overtly anti-Sanskrit & anti-Brahmin and some of them are covertly anti-Sanskrit & anti-Brahmin and some of them are even atheists. A few of them, who are aware of the idiocy of this move, have allegedly attended the function on political as well as personal compulsions. The height of the felicitations was, artists dressed up in the guise of Thiruvalluvar, Tholgaappiyar, Kambar, Avvaiyaar, Ilango Adigal, et al, lined up praising Karunanidhi for this revolutionary move! Accepting the felicitations, the Chief Minister had said, “This decision had been made, neither with a view to effacing the existing names of years in Sanskrit, nor out of hatred towards them. The move is to give importance to Mother Tamil while calculating the years and to redeem the honour of the language”. But conspicuously, he had not said anything about the methodology of such a new calculation, if at all there is one. The Chief Minister had also said, “All Tamils should celebrate the first day of the month ‘Thai’ not only as ‘Pongal festival’ but also as ‘Tamil New Year Day’. Besides, they should be celebrated with all pomp and gaiety attached to the Deepavali Festival”.

The False and The Truth: -

The Chief Minister had said that the government has no intention of changing the existing names of the Tamil months, as the words used at present are mostly of Tamil origin, which is a farcical statement. However, the actual truth is that all the names of the months have originated from Sanskrit. For example, “Chaithra” (star-Chithra) is the origin for “Chithirai”; “Vaisaka” (star-Visaka) is the origin for “Vaikaasi” and the same is changed as “Baisaki” in certain languages; “Jeshta”or “Aanushi” (star-Anusham) is the origin for “Aani”; “Aashaada” (star-Poorvashaada-Pooradam and Uthirashaada-Uthiradam) is the origin for “Aadi”; “Sraavana” (star-Sravanam) is the origin for “Aavani”; “Paathrapatha” or “Proshtapathi” (star-Poorattathi and Uthirattathi) is the origin for “Purattasi”; “Aasvayujee” or “Aaswini” (star-Aswini) is the origin for “Aippasi”; “Kaarthikaa” (star-Karthikai) is the origin for “Kaarthikai”; “Maargasirsha” (star-Mrigasirham) is the origin for “Maargazhi”; “Thaishya”, which is otherwise called as “Poushya” due to the connected stars ‘Pushyam’ and ‘Punarvasu’, is the origin for “Thai”; “Maaga” (star-Magam) is the origin for “Maasi” and “Paalguni” (stars-Pooram-Poorva Palguni and Uthiram-Uthira Palguni) is the origin for “Panguni”. So, it confirms the well known fact that Sanskrit is the Mother of all Indian languages and among them Tamil commands almost equal status and respect as that of Sanskrit mainly because of the truth that, they originated from Lord Shiva and got introduced to the world through Sage Paanini for Sanskrit and Sage Agasthya for Tamil. It is believed for ages and centuries that Sanskrit and Tamil are the two eyes of Lord Shiva and it is a disgrace and insult that these divine languages are deliberately discriminated by “Atheist Dravidians” purely for selfish interests in the name of Aryan-Dravidian Racism.

The ‘latest’ stunt: -

A private TV channel reported yesterday (11-04-08) that the HR&CE department had issued a circular to all the temples ordering them to prohibit the sacred “Panchangam Reading” ritual and other “Varusha Pirappu” celebrations on Sunday the 13th. Rejecting the unilateral decision of the government to change the New Year from the first day of ‘Chithirai’ to the first day of ‘Thai’ month, with utmost contempt, the people of the state have already started their preparations for celebrating the New Year with gaiety & fanfare. The Priests and Bakthas of all the temples have also organized the usual rituals as per the tradition in full swing. At this point of time, the Dravidian government, which always shows scant regards to the Hindu tradition & culture, has come out with the said circular, which is outrageous! The reason for this arrogance can be easily & rightly attributed to the terrible loss of face for the government and the defeat it got at the hands of the people of the state, as its ordinance on ‘Thai’ New Year has been totally ignored by the people.


Conclusion: -

Many genuine Scholars, Historians, Linguists and Astrologers are of the firm opinion that, this naïve move would die a natural death very soon! By this move, ‘Kalaignar’ has acted a ‘Thuglak’! This move will result only in the self-satisfaction of Mr.Karunanidhi, Mr.Veeramani, Mr.Ramadoss and their Dravidian i lk. The people are in no way going to be benefited by this and in fact the government, which has already earned the wrath of the people for its stand on Rama Sethu, for making malicious remarks on Lord Rama and consistent anti-Hindu stand, comments & actions like the recent Chidambaram Temple episode, has antagonized the people further by this stupid move! The Dravidian Leaders & the self-styled Tamil champions will eat humble pies on the 13th after realizing that their much touted "New Year Revolution" had no takers at all. A spokesman of DMK has come out with an amusing Dravidian view that "Thai is important to Tamils and Thiruvalluvar is as important to Tamils as Jesus Christ is for the Christians". Irrespective of such insipid & idiotic opinions of these Dravidian leaders, the people of Tamil Nadu have been celebrating all the Hindu festivals including "Thai Pongal" and "Varusha Pirappu" as per the Tamil Hindu Calendar starting from Chithirai to Panguni. They also have great reverence to Thiruvalluvar, Tholgappiyar, Agathiyar and other Tamil Sages and scholars, who have never deviated from traditions themselves while celebrating the festivals as per the Hindu culture and calendars. MORE IMPORTANTLY THE TAMILS KNEW THAT ‘PONGAL’ FALLS ON “KARI NAAL” AND HENCE THEY WOULD NEVER START THEIR NEW YEAR ON THAT DAY! NO SANE PERSON WILL COMMENCE ANYTHING ‘NEW’ ON A “KARI NAAL”! Even the cadres of the Dravidian parties would be celebrating the new year on Sunday the 13th as per tradition and let us all be rest assured that most of the Dravidian leaders would do the same albeit secretly!

WISH YOU ALL A HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS TAMIL NEW YEAR!

தமிழ் புத்தாண்டு வாழ்த்துக்கள்!


B.R.Haran.

 

[sriniranga]

Wishing You all Happy Tamil New year

Wishing You all Happy Tamil New year

 

[Ramaa]

Another rude interference of the DMK into Hindu faith.

Chennai, April 12: A pope reformed the Christian calendar but priests here are furious at the DMK government’s revision of the Tamil year.​

The administration has told government-run temples not to celebrate the traditional Tamil New Year tomorrow, saying the year began three months ago.​

Angry priests said they had received an oral order banning the New Year rites — special pujas and readings from the Tamil almanac, Panchangam — on Sunday.​

For centuries, priests have read from the almanac every New Year evening to tell large gatherings how the coming year would unfold — to reassure them about good rainfall and bountiful crops, or warn them of war and pestilence.​

Many temples are preparing to defy the ban. “This is needless interference with age-old temple practices,” said a priest at Chennai’s Sundareshwarar temple.​

The Tamil year has always begun with the month of Chittirai, in mid-April. But the DMK government got a law passed last February, advancing it to the first day of the month Thai in mid-January.​

This was done to pander to Tamil nationalists who claim that the mid-April New Year is a “Sanskritic imposition”.​

The mid-January New Year would coincide with Pongal — an “authentic” Tamil festival (though Sankranti is observed around the same time across India).​

Also, Tamil saint-poet Thiruvalluvar’ s birthday, usually celebrated on January 17, would now virtually kick off the year, which would be logical as the Tamil calendar dates from him, the government said.​

“We’ll go ahead with the special pujas for the sake of the devotees,” a priest said.​

A priest at the Jambulingeshwarar temple near Tiruchirappalli, however, said his shrine would obey the ban.​

The Ramanathaswami temple in Rameshwaram, however, has been spared a difficult choice. Sources said the special pujas would be held since devotees had already paid for them. But the temple’s long-standing custom has been to read the almanac in the month of Aadi (mid-June), so it gets a breather now.​

Several Opposition leaders, led by Jayalalithaa and MDMK chief Vaiko, issued New Year’s Eve greetings to the public today, indicating they disagreed with the new calendar law.​

A similar reform of the Christian calendar was decreed in 1582 by Pope Gregory XIII, but for astronomical reasons. He dropped 10 days from the Julian version of the calendar to correct a miscalculation about leap years.​

 

[sriniranga]

These politicians are stupid people in India, Now God only have to find the solution for this..

Another rude interference of the DMK into Hindu faith.

Chennai, April 12: A pope reformed the Christian calendar but priests here are furious at the DMK government’s revision of the Tamil year.​

The administration has told government-run temples not to celebrate the traditional Tamil New Year tomorrow, saying the year began three months ago.​

Angry priests said they had received an oral order banning the New Year rites — special pujas and readings from the Tamil almanac, Panchangam — on Sunday.​

For centuries, priests have read from the almanac every New Year evening to tell large gatherings how the coming year would unfold — to reassure them about good rainfall and bountiful crops, or warn them of war and pestilence.​

Many temples are preparing to defy the ban. “This is needless interference with age-old temple practices,” said a priest at Chennai’s Sundareshwarar temple.​

The Tamil year has always begun with the month of Chittirai, in mid-April. But the DMK government got a law passed last February, advancing it to the first day of the month Thai in mid-January.​

This was done to pander to Tamil nationalists who claim that the mid-April New Year is a “Sanskritic imposition”.​

The mid-January New Year would coincide with Pongal — an “authentic” Tamil festival (though Sankranti is observed around the same time across India).​

Also, Tamil saint-poet Thiruvalluvar’ s birthday, usually celebrated on January 17, would now virtually kick off the year, which would be logical as the Tamil calendar dates from him, the government said.​

“We’ll go ahead with the special pujas for the sake of the devotees,” a priest said.


A priest at the Jambulingeshwarar temple near Tiruchirappalli, however, said his shrine would obey the ban.​

The Ramanathaswami temple in Rameshwaram, however, has been spared a difficult choice. Sources said the special pujas would be held since devotees had already paid for them. But the temple’s long-standing custom has been to read the almanac in the month of Aadi (mid-June), so it gets a breather now.​

Several Opposition leaders, led by Jayalalithaa and MDMK chief Vaiko, issued New Year’s Eve greetings to the public today, indicating they disagreed with the new calendar law.​

A similar reform of the Christian calendar was decreed in 1582 by Pope Gregory XIII, but for astronomical reasons. He dropped 10 days from the Julian version of the calendar to correct a miscalculation about leap years.​

 

[Naina_Marbus]

Tamil Font

மனமார்ந்த தமிழ் புத்தாண்டு வாழ்த்துக்கள்!

Regards

Appaiah

Greetings for the Tamil New Year.
I would also like to type messages in Tamil, just as you have done.
Could you kindly provide some links on how the keyboard is to be used to type messages in Tamil ?
Thanks.

 

[malgova.mango]

To one and all,

Happy and prosperous - "sarvadhari"

Regards,

 

[appaiah]

Dear Sri/ Ms Naina_Marbus

You are making me let the secret out!

Even I dont have the Tamil fonts. I just copied the phrase மனமார்ந்த தமிழ் புத்தாண்டு வாழ்த்துக்கள்! from the immediately previous post of Ms Ramaa and pasted it.

Much as I wanted to have a 'p" between தமிழ் and புத்தாண்டு I could not put it as I did not have Tamil fonts!!

Regards

Appaiah

 

[Naina_Marbus]

Entering/Typing Tamil font on the keyboard

அன்பர்களுக்கு மனமார்ந்த தமிழ் புத்தாண்டு வாழ்த்துக்கள்!

ரமா

End Quote
--------------------------------------------------------

Hello Ms. Ramaa:

I am quoting below the mail from Mr.Appiah.
May I ask the same question that I put to him?

Naina
--------------------------------------------------------

Dear Sri/ Ms Naina_Marbus

You are making me let the secret out!

Even I dont have the Tamil fonts. I just copied the phrase மனமார்ந்த தமிழ் புத்தாண்டு வாழ்த்துக்கள்! from the immediately previous post of Ms Ramaa and pasted it.

Much as I wanted to have a 'p" between தமிழ் and புத்தாண்டு I could not put it as I did not have Tamil fonts!!

Regards

 

[Naina_Marbus]

Dear Sri/ Ms Naina_Marbus

You are making me let the secret out!

Even I dont have the Tamil fonts. I just copied the phrase மனமார்ந்த தமிழ் புத்தாண்டு வாழ்த்துக்கள்! from the immediately previous post of Ms Ramaa and pasted it.

Much as I wanted to have a 'p" between தமிழ் and புத்தாண்டு I could not put it as I did not have Tamil fonts!!

Regards

Appaiah

Thanks Mr.Appiah, I admire your openness and honesty.

Naina

 

[pannvalan]

Tamil calendar is based on both solar and lunar movements, unlike Telugu, Kannada and
Marathi calendars that follow only lunar movements. Malayalam calendar in many ways follows Tamil calendar only. It may pl be noted that Sun crosses the Equator on Mar 21 and Sep 23, the dates on which days and nights are equal. Therefore, our Tamil calendar is 'equinoctical or astronomical calendar'. No one can decide on these celestial matters and arbitrarily change the Tamil New Year. This is 'ultra vires' even for an elected government!

 

[Ramaa]

Dear Naina/Appaiahji,

http://www.tamil.net/tscii/akaram.tar.Z

Scroll down to the end. Type your transliteration on the left side and presto!
it appears in Tamil on the right side! Just copy and paste!!

That simple!!

 

[appaiah]

ரமா அவர்களே

அட, இவ்வளவு ஸுலபமா?

நன்றி,

அப்பையா

 

[Ramaa]

Dear Appaiahji,

You are welcome!

 

[Naina_Marbus]

Dear Naina/Appaiahji,

http://www.tamil.net/tscii/akaram.tar.Z

Scroll down to the end. Type your transliteration on the left side and presto!
it appears in Tamil on the right side! Just copy and paste!!

That simple!!

Dear Ms.Ramaa:

Thanks very much indeed.

Naina

 

[Ramaa]

Dear Naina,

My name is Ram.A.A. became Ramaa! So you can call me Ramaa without any salutations.

 

[Naina_Marbus]

Dear Naina,

My name is Ram.A.A. became Ramaa! So you can call me Ramaa without any salutations.

Dear Ramaa:

Thanks for your kind response. When in doubt, I try to err on the safe side. I am also Mr. Naina just in case.

Naina

 

[Ramaa]

Dear Naina_Marbus,

This is a open forum and everyone is welcome to become member and contribute to the welfare of the Tamil Brahmins. There are a lot of people using nick names some are fanciful! There is one by name Tanjoreculture who set off a discussion on the Tamil Brahmins that brought the best of Sri Appaiahji for which the entire forum members are thankful. In the discussion if I remember correct it was revealed that this Sri Tanjoreculture was not a member of the Brahmin caste or Hindu community.

Just out of curiosity I am asking you if you are also one of those may not belong to the Brahmin community but is taking interest in our welfare. You need not answer this if you are uncomfortable.

 

[Ramaa]

Lankan Tamils reject Karunanidhi's diktat on Tamil New Year
Tuesday April 15 2008 00:00 IST
http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IEH20080414092151&Title=Top+Stories&Topic=0&

P K Balachandran


COLOMBO: Sri Lankan Tamils, who are known for their orthodoxy, have summarily rejected Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi's bid to change the Tamil New Year from Chittirai Thirunaal (April 13) to Thai Pongal (January 14), saying it is unwarranted on astronomical, historical and cultural grounds.

Pro-Tamil Tiger commentators as well as Tamil moderates in the island feel that the change brought about through a resolution of the Tamil Nadu state assembly in February, does not have a justifiable basis even from Karunanidhi's Tamil nationalist standpoint.

'I have not come across anywhere that Thai Pongal was considered to be the beginning of a New Year,' said Prof. S Pathmanathan, a renowned Sri Lankan Tamil historian and a former head of the history department in Peradeniya University at Kandy.

'In the Sangam era literature, there is no mention of the New Year. Sangam literature was secular and dealt with matters other than the religious. The question of the New Year is essentially a religious one, and politicians should not interfere', he told this website's newspaper.

Padmanathan, who has written seminal works on Hindu temples in Sri Lanka and the history of the Jaffna kingdom, said the Tamil New Year was an integral part of Tamil Hinduism and had been part of the Hindu ritual calendar for over a thousand years.

'From the time of the indigenous Tamil kings, the Tamils of India and Sri Lanka have considered Chittirai Thirunaal as the New Year, based on astronomical and religious considerations,' Pathmanathan said.

'The calculation for the commencement of the New Year and the calendar based on it are entirely astronomical,' added a commentator on the pro-LTTE website www.tamilnet.com who goes under the name Ampalam.

There is a combination of solar and stellar perspectives in the calculation of the New Year.

'The entry of the Sun into the first degree of the Fixed Zodiac (Niryana in Sanskrit), i.e. the first degree of the constellation Achchuvini (Ashwini) or the first degree of the zodiacal sign of Aries (Mesha in Sanskrit and Thakar in Tamil) is taken as the beginning of the year,' Ampalam said.

'For some reasons, the solar New Year found much currency in the southern parts of South Asia. It is associated with the Saalivahana Era, the reckoning of which is found predominantly in the inscriptions of South India and Sri Lanka. The Era begins in 77-78 AD,' he added.

'The Solar New Year in April is also associated with the 60-year cycle that has rendered names for the years. This cycle is based on the calculation of the relative positions of Jupiter and Saturn, the two major planets of the solar system, supposed to be exerting special impact on the climate and natural phenomena in a year, in addition to the usual impact of the Earth's revolution around the sun. In this cycle, the relative positions of Jupiter and Saturn will repeat after 60 years.'

'Once again, the 60-year cycle is peculiar to Tamil astronomical texts. The names of the years are widely used only the Tamils. The system is essentially a southern innovation despite the names being in Sanskrit,' Ampalam pointed out.

On Chief Minister Karunanidhi's argument in favour of adopting Thai Pongal as the Tamil New Year, the Sri Lankan commentator said the arguments for regarding this as a step towards a 'Tamil revolution' are not clear. Thai Pongal is also determined astronomically. And like the Chittirai Thirunaal, Thai Pongal day (Jan. 14) is observed in various parts of India under various names.

'Whatever pros and cons can be said about the April New Year can also be said about Thai Pongal, which is Makara Sankraanti to the rest of India,' he asserted.

Giving up the April 13 New Year and opting for Thai Pongal day will only dissociate the Tamils from other Dravidian peoples in South India and Sri Lanka, Ampalam said.

Chittirai Thirunaal plays an integrative role by keeping alive relations between the Tamils and other Hindus in India, and also the Sinhalese Buddhists in Sri Lanka, Pathamanathan said. By giving it up, new cleavages and animosities would be created, he warned.

 

[appaiah]

Dear Sri Ramaa

Thanks for the link to the Sri Lankan site.

Although it contains articles on issues where we differ with them, the artivcles on Tamil Putthandu are not only in line with our thoughts, but are very research oriented. The articles bring out the scientific basis for the Tamil new year. In fact, most of the Hindu festivals are associated with the position of the constellations and the various planets in relation to earth. This scientific basis is never brought out,with the result, the so called "paguttharivu vadhigal" take on Purana and call the festivals as superstitious. For that matter, even deepavali is associated with the new moon day in the month of Aippasi.

The article by Ampalam is very good. It is worth reading.

It gives a reply that the rulers will find difficult to refute, particularly the relevant references to Tamil literature by him.

 

[Saab]

People of Siam (Thailand) also celeberate the New year coincinding with our Tamil New Year's day on the 1st day of Chithrai month.

http://www.chiangmai-chiangrai.com/origins_of_songkran.html

There are three reasons. One is Thai people have roots in Hinduism. Secondly their King is still Rama. And thirdly they had connection with the Pallavas who ruled Tamilnadu.

The People of Combodia whose connection with the Pallavas are much more pronounced also celeberate the New Year at the same time but for three days: The first day is "MOHA SANGKRAN" the second day is "VORNBORTH" and the third day is "THNGAI LIENG SAK".

 

[Saab]

Suddenly it occured to me that when the DMK govt. decided to change the Tamil year to begin from the middle of January:

Are they calling this as year No.1 of Karunanidhi era?

What about the months: Are they going to name them after his children and relatives and friends such as Azhagiri, Stalin, Kanimozhi etc.?

When the temples have been prohibited from conducting special poojas on the Hindu calendar, will they be calling for new poojas on their new year and new months and so on?

What would be the consequece to their avowed naasthikam?

These are some of the thoughts that crossed my mind.

What do our learned members think?