Tamil Numbers (Tamil Numerals)

Tamil Numbers or Numerals are used by Tamil people from Unknown time like their alhabets. You will be surprised to know Tamils used these numbers and are found even in Egypt pottery work that are exacavted after 3500 years from many sites along with Brahmi Tamil letters. In Sri Lanka na India many ancient metal coins with Tamil numbers were found in the archeological foundings. Many of them are available in the muzems in Sri lanka and India.

For example in "Kantha Puranam" book says Lord Muruga had his Army force of 2,000 "Vellam Chenai'.
One vellam Chenai means 1,000000000000000000000000000000000
00000000000000000000000 persons. (56 times 0).
Like wise the Tamils had speed too. When king Nalan was riding his chariot in 10 seconds he had an speed of 24 katham.

As per "Kanthapuranam"
24xkathireluthugal =Hair diamension(sakkiraham)
8Hair diamension(sakkiraham) = a lie's egg(Eeer)
8egg(Eeer)= 1 lie (Pe'an)
8 lies= 1nel(Paddy)
8 Paddies= 1iviral idai
24 viral idai= 1 kai(Hand)
4Hands = 1Vil (Bow)
2bow = 1Thandam (Muruga's Vel)
2000 Vel's = 1Kurosham (Koopidu thuram-Calling distance).
4 kurushom= 1 Yosani ( 18.2 miles)

Previously Sri Lanka was using Tamil numbers in their currency notes and coins when they had the name Ceylon.
Currently only country is to useTamil numbers in it's currency is Mauritius.
See one of the sample currency note.

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_numerals
http://tamilelibrary.org/teli/numeral.html