Variar

Variyar / Warrier is a South Indian, Hindu caste of the Ambalavasi (temple-personnel) community from Kerala, India. They are engaged as priests in temple-related chores, primarily catering to the floral requirements and daily maintenance of the temple. This surname is not related to Varrier, a Kashmiri Muslim surname, or the English name 'Warrior'

Etymology

The term Variyar is originated from a Dravidian word 'Variyam' (Malayalam: വാരിയം; Tamil: வாரியம், romanized: vāriyam, which refers to a committee or a board. Variyam refers to an office of supervision. Thus variyar is a supervising officer or a member of a supervisory board or committee. The word is commonly used in the plural form as Variar (Varian + -ar) to denote respect. The feminine equivalent of Variar is Varassyar. It is a combination of Variacchi/Variyassi/Variaththi (வாரியச்சி) and the plural suffix -ar.

Prominent Variyars

• Unnayi Variyar - poet, writer, scholar, dramatist who lived in Kerala during the later part of the 17th century.
• Ramapurathu Warrier -pioneer of the "Vanchipattu" or Boat-song form of poetry in Malayalam language.
• Ikkanda Warrier (1890–1977) - the first and the last Prime Minister of the state of Cochin, India, beginning in 1948.
• Sankara Variyar - an astronomer-mathematician of the Kerala school of astronomy and mathematics.
• N. V. Krishna Warrier - an Indian poet, journalist, scholar, academician and political thinker.
• P. K. Warrier - Indian Ayurvedic physician.
• P. K. R. Warrier - a cardiothoracic surgeon, author and social activist.
• Manju Warrier - an Indian film actress and dancer in the Malayalam film industry.
• Sandeep Warrier - an Indian first-class cricketer.
• Sachin Warrier - playback singer and composer in the Malayalam cinema industry.
• Mridula Warrier - playback singer.
• Rajashree Warrier - Bharata Natyam dancer.
• Shashi Warrier - author.
• Madhu Warrier - actor and producer.
• Ashwathy Warrier - model, actress, dancer and singer, who has worked in the Tamil film industry.
• Gopi Warrier - an expert in Indian Ayurvedic medicine. He is also a playwright and poet.

External links

• World Wide Warriers portal
• World Confederation of Warriers