The term is often used in poetry and literature to describe the intense emotional turmoil experienced when lovers are parted. It carries connotations of:
* Yearning: A deep and persistent desire for the loved one's presence.
* Melancholy: A state of sadness and dejection.
* Pining: A longing that consumes the individual's thoughts and emotions.
"Viraham" can also be used more broadly to describe the feeling of separation or absence from anything that is dear to us, including friends, family, homeland, or even a cherished idea.