கோயில் கல்வெட்டுகளில் தமிழ் மாதம் மற்றும் நட்சத்திரங்களின் சிறப்புகளும் அவற்றிக்கான நிவந்தங்களும்

Significance of Tamil Months And Nakshatras (Asterisms), and the Associated Endowments, as Recorded in Temple Inscriptions

Abstract

Tamil is not merely a language; it embodies a culture deeply connected to nature. Through profound experience, Tamils gained an indisputable understanding of how nature functions in daily life and how it shapes human existence, basing their way of life upon this knowledge. Accordingly, they tracked the movements of planets and stars, categorising time into eras, years, months, and nakshatras based on natural cycles; they established temples and agricultural systems as the focal points for observing these rhythms. They practised agriculture in alignment with the seasons and utilized the resulting harvests to provide offerings for the worship of deities in temples, scheduled according to the months and star-based travels. Driven by the desire that their endowments should benefit the public, donors recorded their endowments in inscriptions for all to see. Tamil months and Nakshatras (asterisms) played a significant role across various spheres-including kingship, individual life, politics, temple affairs, and agriculture-and inscriptions serve as the evidence that reveals this to us. Drawing upon specific temple inscriptions as primary sources, this study provides details regarding festival endowments-identifying the donors, the timing, the beneficiaries, and the underlying purposes of these gifts. While it is not feasible to examine every single temple inscription, the study of a select few allows us to understand the significance of Tamil months and Nakshatras, as well as the festivals associated with them.