Virk

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Virk (विर्क) Wirk (विर्क) Birk (बिर्क) Vrik (वृक) Varika (वरिक) is a gotra of the Jat clan found in Punjab and Rajasthan. Typically, Virks are tall, thin and fair skinned. In the Western Punjab Virks are supposed to belong to Mahe dynasty, and Minhas are considered to be brethren of the Virks. Birk and Virk gotras are of same origin. Only due to linguistic differences pronunciation is different.

Contents

History

It is one of the most important clan. It is mentioned by Panini and V.S. Agrawal has identified Virk with the Jats. The same identification has been mentioned by Buddha Prakash. [1] Mahabhasya mentions Vrika and its derivative Varkenya, the Varkan of the Persians, and Hyrcan of the Greeks. The Caspian sea was once called the Sea of Vrkans (Hyrcanian). The identification of Hyrcan with Varkan has also been mentioned by Rawlinson in his History of Herodotus, he mentions that even in the thirteenth century, their country in Central Asian was mentioned as Urkanich in Yakut. According to Herodotus they fought in the battle of Thermopylae under their leader named Megapanus, who was afterwards Satrap of Babylonia. [2] They are one of the earliest clans too enter India, and up to the sixth century A.D. at least they were ruling in Malwa under their king Vishnuvardhana, Vrik. The Vriks are remembered in the Brahma, Vaman and Markandeya Puranas. Their antiquity goes very much deep in the past. A country called Uruk / Wark is mentioned in Sumeria, along with a country called Gutium. In fact, Trigan, the last Gutian King in the twenty-second century B.C. was defeated by Utu-Khegal, the ruler of Wark country. It is possible that this country has been named after them. The word Vrik in Sanskrit means a wolf the same as Russian Volka, which also means the same. The river Volga is named after [3] In the Kushana period an officer of Vima Kadphises was a Vrika, according to K.P.Jayaswa. [4]

According to Patan Jali Bhashya 4.6-114, Ashtadhyayi l-6-155 Mahabhasya 4-2-154 and Kashika varti 1-1-175, Raja Virk Vardhan had his forts in Kasrud (Mandsaur) , Central India, Shakil (Sialkot) Sosaph, Dathaaprastha, Naudipur, Koak, Kandewa, Mula, Pava Datt, Karkar, Virkgary etc.

According to historians the present Sheikhupura was the site of Virkgarh.

According to Th. Yugendrapal Virks are Vahikas who are mentioned in the Mahabharata and who took one sixth of the income of King Shalya. In the 4th century AD they had a powerful kingdom. They were contemporaries of Gupta rulers. According to Brij Indra Bhaskar, in 428 AD the Virk rulers performed a big Yagya near Bayana and constructed a Pillar, on which they mentioned as Virks. Rock inscriptions of Yasodharman have been found in Mandsaur. Their reign in Malwa came to an end in 462 AD.

King Singhavarma belonging to this dynasty ruled from 535 AD to 585 AD. He had two sons Narvarma and Chandravarma. Chandravarma's son was Yasovarman. According to a rock inscription found in Gandhar, he was an independent ruler. He had two sons, Bhimvarma and Bondhuvarma. Bondhuvarma was defeated by the Gupta rulers and Bhimvarma was appointed the Savant of a principality near Kausambhi but once more he became independent and allying himself with Anu Gupta fought the Huns. This has been referred to in the "Chandra Viyakaran".

Bhandhuvarmas's son was Yasodharman and his son Shiladitya.

The Virk Jat Kapur Singh founded Kapurthala and made it his capital. Before Punjab's partition Sir Shahabuddin, member of the Punjab assembly and Secretary of Jat Sabha belonged to Tar in Sialkot. Jandiala in Amritsar belonged to the Virks.

Distribution in Punjab

In the present day, Virk live in Sheikhupura, a district in Punjab. Birk population is 3,600 in Patiala district.[5]

According to B S Dhillon the population of Virk clan in Jalandhar district is 3,150.[6]

Virk population is 2,037 in Amritsar district.[7] In Firozpur district the Virk population is 1,500. [8]

Distribution in Rajasthan

Villages in Sikar district

Birk ki Dhani, Hardayalpura, Katrathal, Sikar,

Locations in Jaipur city

Ambabari, Jhotwara,

Notable persons of this gotra

  • Yasodharman
  • Jeet Singh Virk, 15-5-1962 IFS Maharashtra, 1987
  • Sharif Virk (I.G.NWFP Police) (Police Service of Pakistan)
  • Anwar Virk (D.I.G Police Sheikhupura)

See also

References

  1. ↑ ibid , p. 251
  2. ↑ ibid. bk. VII. ch . 62
  3. ↑ Political and Social Movements in Ancient Punjab by Buddha Prakash, p. 102
  4. ↑ Journal of Bihar and Orissa Research Society, Vol, XVI, p. 258
  5. ↑ History and study of the Jats. By Professor B.S Dhillon. ISBN-10: 1895603021 or ISBN-13: 978-1895603026. p.126
  6. ↑ History and study of the Jats. By Professor B.S Dhillon. ISBN-10: 1895603021 or ISBN-13: 978-1895603026. 127
  7. ↑ History and study of the Jats. By Professor B.S Dhillon. ISBN-10: 1895603021 or ISBN-13: 978-1895603026. p.124
  8. ↑ History and study of the Jats. By Professor B.S Dhillon.ISBN-10: 1895603021 or ISBN-13: 978-1895603026. p. 127

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