Etymology: From Tamil வரல் (varal, "coming, occurrence") + ஆறு (āṟu, "way, manner, order").
Pronunciation: IPA: /ʋɐɾɐlɑːrʊ/, [ʋɐɾɐläːrɯ]
Primary Meaning: History — the discipline that records and interprets past events involving human beings; also, a narrative or account of past events.
Broader Definitions (per Tamil lexicons):
- Order of events (நிகழ்ச்சிமுறை) — the sequential arrangement of occurrences.
- History (சரித்திரம்) — a record of past events.
- Antecedents (பூர்வ சரித்திரம்) — prior background or lineage.
- Circumstances (சங்கதி) — the surrounding facts or context.
- Details (விவரம்) — specific information or particulars.
- Means, device (உபாயம்) — a method or way of doing something.
- Example, illustration (உதாரணம்) — a case used for demonstration.
- Source, beginning, origin (மூலம்) — the point from which something arises.
- Table of contents (அட்டவணை) — a structured listing of contents.
- A passage; a coming (வருமாறு) — the manner in which something arrives or proceeds.
Usage in Classical Literature:
- கம்பராமாயணம் (Kamba Ramayanam): "ஈதிவன்றன் வரலாறுங் குலவரவும்" — "This is his history and lineage."
- அழகர்கலம்பகம்: "ஆவிதாங்கும் வரலாறுகேளும்" — "Hear the means by which life is sustained."
Related Terms:
- வரலாற்றுவஞ்சி (varalāṟṟuvañci) — a panegyric poem in the வஞ்சிப்பா metre celebrating high birth, greatness, and fame.
- முன்வரலாறு (muṉvaralāṟu) — prehistory.
- நதியின்வரலாறு (natiyiṉvaralāṟu) — the tributaries of a river (literally "the history/course of a river").
Other Notable Usage:
- Varalaru (2006) is a Tamil-language neo-noir action thriller film directed by K. S. Ravikumar, whose title translates to "History."
