I have been collecting the measurements used in our past times...I feel its not complete! However since there are some discussions about kAdhadhooram I am posting this mail... kindly give me your invaluable comments so that I can complete it...
*Neettal alavai*
kAdam - Distance of about 10 Miles
Osanai – 4 kAda dhOram
Kal – a mile (1609 meter)
muzham - As the measure from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger (2 sAn)
sAn - the distance from the tip of the thumb to the tip of the little finger
OttaisAn – the space from the point of the thumb to that of the forefinger when extended
sAtkOl – measuring rod of a length of a sAn
anguttam – measure of thumb
adi – 12 anguttam (inches)
kasAkiram – mayir nuniyalavu ( a linear measure equal to hair's breadth)
Thanks Satheesh, learned lot of details. Now, if I read PS or any other history novel, will know what they are talking about with respect to distance, etc., Please send us the references if you have.
I just did a search on "Tamil Measurements" and found the wikipedia, no idea about authenticity. But our Satheesh Kumar did some research and collected those, so that's why I haven't used any of the wikipedia data, but posted it so that we can add or modify if there is any correction.
--- In ponniyinselvan@yahoogroups.com, svprsk@... wrote: > now and requesting to consider me for any discussions or meetings. I can > be a squirrel for PS by recording (video) the proceedings for our > archives. ===============
VERY NICE SATHEESH. We will work together in this direction.
"sir' cn be dispensed with, pls. ============ > I will be available in chennai from Monday to Friday, in Thanjavur on Saturday and Sunday!
Yeah.. Now I remember your postings on Thanjavur / VIPs.
Satheesh, most interesting, i know the classic 'muzham' is palm to elbow, as often used by florists, how do you measure jaan in terms of your hand - meaning is it double of muzham, or something else?
Am reminded of the other saying too 'thalaikku mela vellam ponaal jaan enna muzham enna...' Thanks!!
I am going to put this polemic topic to rest refer my first mail in which I have said 6000 pagams blah blah etc That is 11.167 not 1.167 as incorrectly mentioned for kadham . Regret inconvenience and was pleasantly surprised that just a decinmal place can drag things for ever btw, any way of dealing decimals in tamil(not fractions but decimal) Venkat
> > THERE WAS " ULAGALANTHAN KOLE " ! > > RRC conducted a major suvey of his ENTIRE EMPIRE to avoid land tax > evation. Excempted lands of Public use like Lake, tanks, temples, > vaaykkal, burial / cremation grounds, Grampanchayat place etc., etc. > > Lands classified : Cultivable - Noncultiavable - House sites etc. > > House sites attracted such tax. >
hi sps sir
Looks like the pallavas were even more meticulous ( or rather merciless) in their tax norms....after reading this am sure we should not complain....barber's tax, washerman's tax....wow read on..
The early copper plate charters of the Pallavas do not mention any type of currency, though they, refer in general terms to exemptions of various kinds of taxes. However in the seventh century, the word Kanam is used in connection with taxation. Paramesvaravarman I's Kuram grant refers to the tax, Kattikkanam.
A land was bought and endowed to a temple and the purchase price is mentioned as Vilai Kanam. That the kanam was the main currency is reflected in a number of taxes mentioned in inscriptions of the eight century A.D. The following are the taxes thus mentioned. 1 Tattak kanam 2 Brahmanarasak kanam 3 Sengodik kanam 4 Kallanak kanam 5 Kannituk kanam 6 Kadirk kanam 7 Visak kanam 8 Kusak kanam 9 Parutik kanam 10 Kuvalaik kanam 11 Ettak kanam 12 Manjadik kanam 13 Viratukkak kanam 14Urik-kanam 15 Parik-kanam 16 Kalkottuk kanam 17 Attuk-kanam 18 Vannarak-kanam 19 Thirumukhak-kanam 20 Paraik-kanam
Such a large number of taxes levied in terms of Kanams and the absense of the word kasu as a tax in any of the Pallava charters shows the coinage went in the name of Kanam by and large. While other taxes are named in kinds the word Pon occurs in three instances as Tengam Pon, Seyivu Ponga Sirntha Pon (Pullur) and Puravu Pon (Velur palayam) The taxes mentioned above have been discussed by Dr. Minakshi and others. Some of hem are clearly professional taxes, the Kusak kanam (Potter's tax), Navitak kanam (Barber's tax) Vannara Kanam (washerman's tax). Dr. Minakshi considers tattik kanam (called Tattak-kanam in the Royakkottai plate) and Tattar pattam in Chola epigraph a tax on goldsmith. Kallanak kanam was a tax on marriages. The term Kannittuk kanam is not very clear; Kadik kanam was a tax on grains Kuvalaik kanam on Kuvalai flowers. It may be necessary to deal in a somewhat separate manner with other Kanams dealth with in these records.