125 OF SOLAR TIME.

8. The Solar year, which commences on the Suns entrance into Aries, is divided into 12 parts or months, whose names are derived from the signs of the Indian Zodiac.
When these names are used, the word മാസം month must be added; sometimes instead of മാസം, ഞായർ, one of the names of the Sun, is added; as മകരഞായർ, January month; but this latter form is nearly obsolete.
which is to teach the exact time of സങ്ക്രന്മം; i. e. the exact time when the Sun enters a new sign.

The purport of the two last lines is, that if the Sun should enter a new sign within 18 Narikas, after sun rise; that is before 1 12 P. M. English time; that day will be the first day of the month. If the Sun enter a new sign after that time, the first day of the month will commence on the next day.
The Solar year is also divided into two parts, each consisting of six solar months; the first of which is called a day of the gods; thus,
പകൽ ദെവകൾക്ക മൃഗമാസമാദിയായാറുതിങ്ങളുണ്ട വിടമുത്തരായണം ഉപനീതിചൌളമപരപ്രതിഷ്ഠയും ഇവയന്നുവെണ്ട്വതപാരാശ്ച സൽക്രിയാഃ
In Malayalim thus,
മകര മാസം ൧൹ മുതൽ ആറുമാസം ഉത്തരായണം അത ദെവകളുടെ പകൽ അന്ന ഉപനയനം ചൌളം ദെപ്രതിഷ്ഠ മുതലായ സൽക്രിയകൾ ഒക്കെയും ചെയ്യെണ്ടുന്ന കാലം In English thus,
Six months from the first of January is Uterayanum, (the Northern way,) this is a day (of 12 hours) of the gods. In this time the ceremonies of putting on the sacred thread, the first shaving of the head, the consecration of Idols and other rites, must be performed.
Six months from the first of July is called ദക്ഷിണായനം Dechanayanum, (the southern way,) This is a night of the gods.
11. The ആഴ്ചവട്ടം or week, is divided into seven days, named after the Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, and Saturn with ആഴ്ച day, affixed to each of them; as,
ഞായർ, Sun. ഞായറാഴ്ച, Sunday.
തിങ്കൾ, Moon. തിങ്കളാഴ്ച, Monday.
ചൊവ്വ, Mars. ചൊവ്വാഴ്ച, Tuesday.
ബുധൻ, Mercury. ബുധനാഴ്ച, Wednesday.
വ്യാഴം, Jupiter. വ്യാഴാഴ്ച, Thursday.
വെള്ളി, Venus. വെള്ളിയാഴ്ച, Friday.
ശനി, Saturn. ശനിയാഴ്ച, Saturday.
ആഴ്ച is sometimes used to signify week; or a day when considered as part of a week.
12. The ദിവസം day, of 24 English hours, is divided into 60 നാഴികകൾ Narikas, each of which is equivalent to 24 English minutes.
The day or date of the months is called തീയതി.
നാൾ is a day of the Moons periodical revolution, and is used in reference to the 27 Natchatras.
തിഥി or പക്കം refers to the different phases of the Moon; but both നാൾ and പക്കം, are commonly, though erroneously, used in the same sense as ദിവസം.
The day distinguished from the night is termed പകൽ, and the night രാത്രി.
Other divisions of time of this description are as follows,
൬൦ വിനാഴിക, ൧ നാഴിക, Equal to 24 Minutes.
൨ നാഴിക, ൧ മുഹൂൎത്തം, „ „ 48 Minutes.
൨൴ നാഴിക, ൧ മണിനെരം, Equal to 1 Hour.
൭൴ നാഴിക, ൧ യാമം, „ „ 3 Hours, or one watch.
൬൦ നാഴിക, ൧ ദിവസം, „ „ 1 Day.
൭ ദിവസം, ൧ ആഴ്ചവട്ടം, „ „ 1 Week.
൩൦39 ദിവസം, ൧ മാസം „ „ 1 Month.
൨ മാസം, ൧ ഋതു, „ „ 1 Season.
൧൨ മാസം, ൧ സൌരസംവത്സരം, „ „ 1 Solar year.