Virk

Genealogy of Suryavansha

Virk (विर्क) Virak(विरक), Varik (वरिक) Varak (वरक) Wirk (विर्क) Birk (बिर्क) Birkh (बिर्ख) Birakh (बिरख) Vrik (वृक) Varika (वरिक) Barik (बरिक) Birak(बिरक) is a gotra of the Jat clan found in Punjab and Rajasthan and Pakistan. It is same as Varik. 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 Varik/Virk are Sub-clans of Bure Jats.

Origin

Hyrcania on Map showing the route of Alexander the Great

• Virk is very ancient clan known to Panini in the form of Vrika. V. S. Agrawala mentions the names of Ayudhjivi Sanghas in the Panini's Ashtadhyayi Sutras which include Vṛika (V.3.115). Their Country was Varkania or Hyrcania called Gurgan in modern Persian.

• Vrika=Gurg

Jat Gotras Namesake

• Virk = Orciani (Pliny.vi.18)

• Barik = Baricaza (Pliny.vi.34)

Mention by Pliny

Pliny mentions Troglodytice....Some writers place even beyond this, upon the shore, one town of Ethiopia, called Baricaza. Juba will have it that at the Promontory of Mossylum²³ the Atlantic Sea begins, and that with a north-west wind²⁴ we may sail past his native country, the Mauritanias, and arrive at Gades.

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23 Under the impression entertained by the ancients, that the southern progress of the coast of Africa stopped short here, and that it began at this point to trend away gradually to the north-west.

24 Coro. Salmasius seems with justice, notwithstanding the censures of Hardouin, to have found considerable difficulty in this passage. If it is Pliny's meaning that by sea round the south of the Promontory of Mossylum there is a passage to the extreme north-western point of Africa, it is pretty clear that it is not by the aid of a north-west wind that it could be reached. "Euro," "with a south-east wind," has been very properly suggested.

Mention by Panini

Vrikagarta (वृकगर्त) is mentioned by Panini in Ashtadhyayi.

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Vrika (वृक), a warrior tribe, is mentioned by Panini in Ashtadhyayi.

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Vrikarupya (वृकरूप्य), is mentioned by Panini in Ashtadhyayi.

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Vriksha (वृक्ष), vanaspati (वनस्पति), is mentioned by Panini in Ashtadhyayi.

Mention by Pliny

Pliny mentions 'The Caspian Sea and Hyrcanian Sea.'....Bursting through, this sea makes a passage from the Scythian Ocean into the back of Asia,¹ receiving various names from the nations which dwell upon its banks, the two most famous of which are the Caspian and the Hyrcanian races. Clitarchus is of opinion that the Caspian Sea is not less in area than the Euxine. Eratosthenes gives the measure of it on the south-east, along the coast of Cadusia² and Albania, as five thousand four hundred stadia; thence, through the territories of the Anariaci, the Amardi, and the Hyrcani, to the mouth of the river Zonus he makes four thousand eight hundred stadia, and thence to the mouth of the Jaxartes³ two thousand four hundred; which makes in all a distance of one thousand five hundred and seventy-five miles. Artemidorus, however, makes this sum smaller by twenty-five miles.

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1 His meaning is, that the Scythian Ocean communicates on the northern shores of Asia with the Caspian Sea. Hardouin remarks, that Patrocles, the commander of the Macedonian fleet, was the first to promulgate this notion, he having taken the mouth of the river Volga for a narrow passage, by means of which the Scythian or Northern Ocean made its way into the Caspian Sea

2 The country of the Cadusii, in the mountainous district of Media Atropatene, on the south-west shores of the Caspian Sea, between the parallels of 390 and 370 north latitude. This district probably corresponds with the modern district of Gilan.

3 Now the Syr-Daria or Yellow River, and watering the barren steppes of the Kirghiz-Cossacks. It really discharges itself into the Sea of Aral, and not the Caspian.

History

V. S. Agrawala mentions the names of Ayudhjivi Sanghas in the Panini's Sutras which include Vṛika (V.3.115) - [p.443]: An individual member of this Sangha was called Vārkeṇya, and the whole Sangha Vrika. This name standing alone in the Sutra with a suffix peculiar from the rest is hitherto untraced. It is stated to be Ayudhajivin, but not necessarily associated with Vahika. It should probably be identified with Varkaṇa, the old Persian form in the Behistun inscription of Darius, mentioned along with Pārthava or the Parthians (Behistun inscription Col. II.1.16). There is a striking similarity between the Sanskrit and old Persian forms of the name, e.g. Vārkeṇya equal to Vārkaṇa in the singular number , and Vrikah equal to Varkā in plural as in the expression Sakā Hauma-Varkā.

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The Country of Vrikas: [p.444]: The Country of Vrikas seems to have being the same as Hyrcania lying to the north of Parthia and on the eastern corner of the Caspian (mod. Persian Gurgan, from Vrika=Gurg, in the valley of River of that name in the fertile district of Astarabad. The Persians distinguished the Varkas and infact all the northern war like equestrian people as Sakas (Persepolis Tomb Inscription, Sakā para-daria).

The name Vrika was known throughout the north-west as shown by its derivatives found in the several languages near Panini’s homeland, e.g. Ishkashmi werk, Yidgha wurk, wurg etc. The title Bakanapati or Barkanapati, the chief of Varkanas, is applied to a Saka Governor of Mathura who was associated with the foundation and repair of Devakula of Wima Kadphises (JRAS,1924, p.402; JBORS, xvi,p.258), whom Jayaswal identified as Hyrcanian Saka. Panini’s acquaintance with a branch of Sakas is not surprising, since he uses Saka word Kantha meaning 'town' in six sutras. The Sakas were very ancient race referred to in the old Persian Inscriptions of Darius and settled both in Sakasthana and on the borders of Parthia which were connected with Bahlika and Gandhara. Katyayana also has the expression Saka-Parthava in a varttika showing that in the 4th century BC he knew of Sakas and the Parthians, probably by way of commerce, previous to their political invasions.

The Virks are also a section of the Jats in the Punjab, who originally seem to have been Scythians.

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V. S. Agrawala writes that Panini mentions village name in category ending Rūpya (IV.2.106) - The Kāśikā mentions Vrikarupya (Vṛika-rūpya).

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Vijayendra Kumar Mathur writes that Panini mentioned a janapada called Vrika in Punjab. It was probably Vrikasthala, which is the ancient name of Bagpat. Some people believe that Bagpat is derived from Vrikaprastha. Vrikasthala (=Vrikaprastha) was one of five places demanded by Pandavas to end the quarrel.

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V. S. Agrawala writes that there is also the possibility that another Persian tribe came to be known in India in Panini’s time who refers to Vrikas as an Ayudhajivi Sangha, a community that lived by the profession of arms. An individual member of this tribe was called in Sanskrit as Vārkeṇya, a term which seems to correspond to Varakāṇa of the Behistun Inscription. The whole tribe was called Vrikāḥ, which corresponds to Varkā in plural number in the same Saka-Haumavarkā in the Naksh-i-Rustam Inscription. The Vrikas thus appear to be a section of warlike Saka tribes. (Cf.ante,pp.443-4).

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Ram Swarup Joon writes In the Sabha Parva, Mahabharata/Book II Chapter 48, while describing various Kings who attended a ceremony in the Durbar (court) of Maharaja Yudhisthira, seventeen names are mentioned which are today found as Jat gotras. These are Malhia, Mylaw, Sindhar, Gandhar, Mahity, Mahe, Savi, Bath, Dharan, Virk, Dard, Shaly, Matash, Kukar (Khokar) Kak, Takshak, Sand, Bahik (Bathi) Bije (Bijenia), Andhra, Sorashtra (Rathi) Mann, Ar, Sohat, Kukat, Othiwal (Othval).

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Ram Swarup Joon writes about Virk - Minhas: In the Western Punjab Virks are supposed to belong to Mahe dynasty, and Minhas are considered to be brethren of the Virks. They are mentioned in the history of Gujars. The name of the ancestor of the Virk gotra was Virk Vardhan. 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 (Mandsor) ,

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History of the Jats, End of Page-107

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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 Mahabharat 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 Yashodharman have been found in Mandsor. Their reign in Malwa came to an end in 462.

King Singhavarma belonging to this dynasty ruled from 535 AD to 585 AD. He had two sons Narvarma and Chandravarma. Chandravarma's son was Yashovarman. According to a rock inscription found in Gandhar, he was an independent ruler. He had two sons, Bhimvarma and Bandhuvarma. 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".

Bhandhuvarman's son was Yashodharman 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.

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B S Dahiya writes: 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. 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. 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 In the Kushana period an officer of Vima Kadphises was a Vrika, according to K.P.Jayaswal.

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".

Bhandhuvarma'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.

Tracking the very first Aryans to come to our land

Tracking the very first Aryans to come to our land

Note: This Article by Majid Sheikh published in epaper.dawn.com was sent through email by Ajay Singh Malik.

While researching the ancient origins of Lahore, and Punjab, in the `Vishnu Purana` one name kept repeatedly coming up in almost every ancient text consulted, and that was the name `Vrkan.

There was good reason to research this clan of ancient settlers of Loh`s settlement, for they were among the very first Aryans in recorded history, even though more in the mythological texts. Who were these people who assisted the Bharatas, the ancient rulers of Lahore, and who it seems were central to the rulers of their kingdom, especially in the `Battle of the Ten Kings` or Dasrajna War as described in the`Mahabharata.

Scholars call this era the `primitive mythoheroic stage of Hindu beliefs.` The area of their influence included Lahore, Sialkot, Virkgarh (today`s Sheikhupura) and right up to the Indus. The Vrkan, or as we today spell it as the `Virk` clan, today live in the western villages around Lahore and Sheikhupura.

After 1947 the Virks of Sikh and Hindu faith moved eastwards across the `dividing line.

The Muslim Virks remained in their ancestral lands, if you can call it that. They are after all a very ancient people, the hrst of the Aryans that moved from the Caucasian region towards Iran and then to the sub-continent.

My fascination for these people stems from a small incident that many years ago I experienced as young journalist in Lahore. An official of the electricity department told me: `We can eke out power dues from a stone, but not from the inhabitants of the Virk villages near Sheikhupura.` I was to later learn that even removing their meters, let alone the distribution equipment had fatal consequences. But then this was the exception not the rule.

Since then I had wanted to understand this unique clan. I first heard of these people when hitch-hiking to Europe in the late 1970 when I was at an age where you can `fly on thin air.` A sailor we met on the Black Sea told us that the nearby Caspian Sea was originally called the Sea of Vrkans, or of the Virk people who now inhabit villages around Lahore.

That a sailor on the Black Sea knew about Lahore pleased me to no end. Today the entire area between Sheikhupura, originally named Virkgarh till Mughal emperor Jahangir renamed it, up to Lahore and northward till Sialkot was the territory ruled by Raja Virk Vardan. The Punjabi poet Waris Shah was born in Jandiala, considered the epicentre of Virk country.

The history of the Virk clan goes back quite a few thousand years. If you happen to go through the Rig Veda you will time and again come across their mention, mostly as the doings of Prince Dasyave Vrika. These Jats have been identified as among the first Aryans to come over from Iran`s province of Varkania, which from Persian translates as the `land of Virks`.

But if we consult the ancient texts of Punjab, especially the Patanjali Bhashya and the famous Ashtadhyayi, we come across the Virk rulers building forts and cities all over Punjab.

It is in the Mahabhasya that we see reference to Lahore being an abode of the Virk, or the `Virkan` as they are named. Amazingly, even today that is how they address each other.

An Indian scholar T. Yugendra Pal after intense research is of the opinion that the city of Bahawalpur was built by the Virk, who he claims are the Vahikas warriors mentioned in the Mahabharata, who were based in Madradesa, or Sialkot as we know it today. Their kingdom `spread alongside the river right up to the citadel of Loh.` We all know that Lahore is named after Loh, the son of Ram, or Rama, whose origins we have dwelt on considerably in these columns.

These warrior people extracted a sixth of all incomes of the small rulers` right across the sub-continent. Which means that the Virks must have been an important clan when the Battle of the Ten Kings took place on the banks of the Ravi at Lahore.

The Virks are known to have built 11 major forts across their kingdom, including the one at Virkgary, or Virkgarh (Sheikhupura). The remains of that crumbling fort need to be conserved and excavations carried out to understand the past of these magnificent people.

Other traces of their kingdom can be seen in the rock pillars of Yasodharman of 462 AD, where the Virk are clearly mentioned.

But then we can see a much more ancient trace of these Jat people, and they in the 2,200 BC, that is 4,200 years ago, find mention as the conquerors of the last of the Gutian kings.

These people are said to have come from the land of Wark, which most experts believe was from Virk country. Researchers have pinned them down to Caucasian origins. In Daksiputra Panini`s great Sanskrit grammar classic `Ashtadhyayi`, we find the Sanskrit work Vrik as meaning a `wolf`, which has the same origin as the Russian word `Volka` after which is named the river Volga.

The Greek historian Herodotus describes the Vraks as being `tall, muscular, loyal, sharp witted and very courageous.` Over the ages they have shown their determination to remain a free people. While researching for this piece it was a delight to find out that the very first lady fighter pilot of the Islamic world was a Pakistani woman named Hina Tahir Virk, whom Pakistan Air Force sources tell us is an exceptionally daring fighter pilot. So we have before us a clan who over the last 5,000 years have shown their bravery and mental agility. Today they are fighters in both the Pakistani and Indian armies, not to forget mention of some very `intelligent` politicians on both sides the border.

Over the last 500 years we have seen that the Virk Jats convert either to Islam or to Sikhism.There is a sizeable Hindu Virk population in India. Relatively recently, in historical terms, the rise of the militant Sikhs can be seen in the shape of an outstanding Virk chief, Nawab Kapur Singh Virk, who founded the Dal Khalsa.

He then divided it into 12 `misls`. So the real force of militant Sikhism were the Virks.

Nawab Kapur Singh Virk founded Singhpura of Lahore and the Misl of this area is known in history as Singhpuria Misl. In a way the rise of the Sikhs owe a lot to the brave Virks.

If you read the Sikh scriptures of Bhai Gurdas, you will see that the Virks are attributed as being horse and buffalo traders. British records tell us of the finest trackers (khojees) of lost animals as belonging to the Virk clan. So they know now to respect and look after their animals.

The most famous quote about the Virk came from Maharajah Ranjit Singh, who advised that if on a journey between Lahore (where he ruled) and Gujranwala (where he belonged to), it was best to avoid Virk territory. Such was their influence and clout, both economic and political, then and still remains.

It is interesting just how in ancient texts of the sub-continent, mostly written about events that took place in the area today called Pakistan, we find events that need to be recognised, for it is the amazing past of our land. We must learn to appreciate our history and learn lessons from it. There is much more to our soil than meets the eye.

दशार्ण

ठाकुर देशराज ने लिखा है .... दशार्ण - दशार्ण और दशार्ह लोग मंदसौर और उज्जैन के आसपास रहते थे। असल में 10 कुलों ने मिलाकर जो जाति राष्ट्र कायम किया था उसकी राजधानी दशपुर अथवा मंदसौर थी। जाटों में आजकल यह लोग दसपुरिया और दशार्ह कहलाते हैं। मंदसौर का प्रसिद्ध राजा यशोधर्मन इन्हीं दस खानदानों में से बरिक गोत का जाट नरेश था। उसका वर्णन आगे के प्रश्नों में दिया जा रहा है।

In the History of Herodotus

Bhim Singh Dahiya writes that the in the period from ninth century B.C. to the fourth century B.C., roughly the time between the Manda and Van empires and Alexander's invasion, we find numerous tribes of the Jats finding a name in the history of Herodotus and others. Among the tribes of the Medians, we find:

• Busae (the present Bassi)
• the Budii, (the present Bodhi or Budhwar),
• the Phut of the scriptures;
• the Magi (the famous Magian priests).

• The Sagartians may be compared with the Sagarvars;
• the Alarodians may be compared with the Alarod or Aroda of today;
• the Sapiri may be compared with the Sapra of today;
• the Hyrcanias may be compared with the Varkans or Virks of today;
• the Paeonia may be compare with the Paunia/Punia of today;
• the Sarangians may be compare with the Saran of today;
• the Utians with the Utars of today or the Utiya of the Persians.

The ruling people are called Arizanti or Arizatoi. The word Ari is a form of Arya and Zanti/Zatoi are of course the Jats, the Djati of ancient Egypt and the Guti of Sumer and China.

In Mahavansa

Mahavansa/Chapter 32 tells....making of the chatta and the plaster-work' on the cetiya was finished the king fell sick with a sickness that was (fated) to be mortal. He sent for his younger brother Tissa from Dighavapi to complete the remaining work of Great Thupa at Anuradhapura.....

Mahavansa/Chapter 32 tells....When the thera Abhaya heard this he described those two gifts, to rejoice the king's heart withal, in manifold ways which includes:

• The thera Mahavyaggha gave thereof to seven hundred (bhikkhus) in the Ukkanagara-vihara and then ate of it himself. (Vrika is a Jat clan)

वाह्लीक-वर्क-वरिक

दलीप सिंह अहलावत लिखते हैं:

यह चन्द्रवंशीय जाट राज्य प्राचीन काल से है। इस वंश के लोगों के नाम पर वाह्लीक देश की स्थापना हुई। इसको बाद में बल्ख, बैक्ट्रिया और बाख्त्री नाम से भी कहा जाता है। (देखो तृतीय अध्याय, वाह्लीक-वरिक प्रकरण)।

इन वरिक लोगों का राज्य 2600 ई० पू० में सुमेरिया में था। इनके नाम पर इनका यह देश वर्क देश कहलाता था। इनके साथ में गुटियम देश (जाटों का देश) था, जिनका राज्य

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जाट वीरों का इतिहास: दलीप सिंह अहलावत, पृष्ठान्त-343

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पश्चिमी एशिया पर था जैसा कि पिछले पृष्ठ पर लिखा गया है। इस देश के अन्तिम सम्राट् त्रीगन को 2200 ईस्वी पूर्व में वर्क देश के राजा उतु-खेगल विर्क ने पराजित किया था। वोल्गा नदी, जो उत्तर की ओर से आकर कैस्पियन सागर में गिरती है, विर्क या वर्क जाटों के नाम से है। (Political and Social Movements in Ancient Punjab, by Buddha Prakash, P. 102)।

रॉलिनसन ने ‘हैरोडोट्स का इतिहास’ नामक पुस्तक में लिखा है कि “इन विर्क लोगों का मध्य एशिया में ‘वर्कानिक’ नामक देश (रूस के याकुट्स्क प्रान्त में) सन् 1300 ई० में भी था। ये लोग अपने नेता मेगापानुस के नेतृत्व में थ्रमौपिलाय (Thermopylae) (यूनान में) के युद्ध में लड़े थे। इस युद्ध के पश्चात् इस नेता को बैबिलोनिया का राज्यपाल नियुक्त कर दिया गया।” (जिल्द 4, पृष्ठ 163)।

विर्क लोगों का देश विरकानिया (यूनानी भाषा में हिरकानिया) कहलाता था जिसकी स्थिति पर्थिया के उत्तर तथा कैस्पियन सागर के पूर्व में थी। वहां पर इनके नाम पर हिरकानिया पर्वत भी था। जब इन लोगों की शक्ति कैस्पियन सागर क्षेत्र पर हुई तब वह सागर ‘हिरकानिया सागर’ कहलाया।

फारस के जाट सम्राट् डेरियस (Darius) ने लगभग 521 ई० पू० से 515 ई० पू० में विर्क, कांग तथा अन्य साम्राज्यों और सीथियन जाटों के कालासागर के क्षेत्र में राज्य पर आक्रमण किए। परन्तु सिन्ध से लेकर कालासागर तक के जाटों को अपने अधीन नहीं कर सका। इसका वर्णन आगे पृष्ठों पर मांडा साम्राज्य के प्रकरण में किया जाएगा।

Villages founded Virk by clan

• Birkali (बिरकाली) - village in tehsil Nohar in Hanumangarh district in the Indian state of Rajasthan.

Varik Khap

Varik Khap has 20 villages in Bulandshahr district in Uttar Pradesh. Main villages in Bulandshahr district are Saidpur (सैदपुर) , Sehra (सेहरा), Sihi (सीही), Pali (पाली), Bhamrauli (भामरौली), Pasauli (पसौली) . Jat Gotra - varik. This khap has villages in Hisar district - Gurana (गुराना) , Bhadaud (भदौड़) . In Punjab Kapurthala (कपूरथला) , Jhunga (झुनगा) , Bharatgad (भरतगद) , Dhanauri (धनौरी) , and Kandaula (कंदौला) jagirs were of this khap people.

Birkel village

• बिर्केल (जाट गोत्र - बिर्क) : बिर्केल नाम का गाँव झारखंड के पश्चिमी सिंहभूम जिले की गुदरी विकास-खंड में है।

In Mahabharata

Vrika (वृक) has been mentioned in Mahabharata (I.177.9), (V.31.19), (VIII.30.45), (XIII.116.67).

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Adi Parva, Mahabharata/Mahabharata Book I Chapter 177 mentions the Kshatriyas came on Swayamvara of Draupadi. Vrika is included in verse (I.177.9).

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Udyoga Parva/Mahabharata Book V Chapter 31 mentions that Pandavas were desirous of peace and demanded only five villages: Kushasthala, Vrikasthala, Asandi, Varanavata, and for the fifth any other village to end the quarrel.

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Karna Parva/Mahabharata Book VIII Chapter 30 mentions this tribe in derogatory sense as a bias for many clans of Vahika country: "The Karasakaras, the Mahishakas, the Kalingas, the Kikatas, the Atavis, the Karkotakas, the Virakas, and other peoples of no religion, one should always avoid."

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Anusasana Parva/Book XIII Chapter 116 gives List of Kings who had abstained from flesh in Karttika month. Vrika is included in verse (XIII.116.67)....These other kings also, viz., Syenachitra, and Somaka and Vrika and Raivata and Rantideva and Vasu and Srinjaya,....did not eat flesh for the month of Karttika."

Distribution in Punjab

Villages in Sheikhupura district

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

Villages in Jalandhar district

• Birk is village in Phillaur tahsil in Jalandhar district in Punjab, India.

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

Villages in Amritsar district

Virk population is 2,037 in Amritsar district. In Firozpur district the Virk population is 1,500.

Sathiala,

Villages in Moga district

Rauke Kalan,

Villages in Bhatinda district

Virk Kalan, Virk Khurd, Warkandi,

Villages in Fazilka district

Virak Khurd,

Villages in Firozpur district

Wirkanwali,

Villages in Gurdaspur district

Virk named village is in Gurdaspur tahsil of Gurdaspur district in Punjab, India.

Villages in Ludhiana district

• Virk is village in Jagraon Tahsil in Ludhiana district, Punjab.

Villages in Muktsar district

Virk Khera

Distribution in Rajasthan

Villages in Sikar district

Birk Ki Dhani, Dhani Birkhan, Hardayalpura, Katrathal, Mandiwal Ki Dhani, Sikar, Singhasan,

Villages in Churu district

Chhapar Churu (1),

Locations in Jaipur city

Ambabari, Jhotwara,

Villages in Jhunjhunu district

Mukandgarh,

Villages in Hanumangarh district

Birkali

Distribution in Haryana

Villages in Jind district

Anta Safidon, Chhapar, Pipaltha,

Villages in Karnal district

In India, Virks are mainly concentrated in the Karnal district of Haryana. Prominent Virk families are concentrated in villages around Tehsil Assandh, District Karnal, and a few are temporarily living in Patiala District.

Villages in Kurukshetra district

Kurukshetra,

Distribution in Pakistan

Virk - In Punjab (Pakistan), a majority of Virks live in the Sheikhupura district and some are scattered in Sialkot District. There is a small village in Sialkot known as Virk, inhabited by Virk Jats. Virks still control the city of Sheikhupura (the ancient Virkgarh), both politically and economically.

According to 1911 census the Virk were the principal Muslim Jat clan in districts:

• Sialkot District - Virk (1,670)
• Gujranwala District - Virk (7,644)
• Lahore District - Virk (1,375)
• Amritsar District - Virk (325)
• Gurdaspur District - Virk (1,017)
• Gujrat District - Virk (1,030)
• Shahpur (Sargodha District) District - Virk (626)
• Lyalpur District (Faisalabad District) - Virk (1,005)
• Multan District - Virk (328)
• Dera Ghazi Khan District - Virk (548)

Notable persons of this gotra

• Yasodharman
• Vyaghradeva (व्याघ्रादेव), mentioned in Nachane-Ki-Talai Stone Inscriptions of Vyaghradeva, was a vassal of Vakataka King Prithivishena I. Bhim Singh Dahiya considers Vyaghradeva to be an ancestor of Varika kings of Mandsor.
• Nawab Kapur Singh Virk (1697-1753)
• Kuldip Singh Virk: Padma Shri - 1966, Punjab, Civil Service.
• Sarbdeep Singh Virk: Padma Shri - 1988, Punjab, Civil Service

• Jeet Singh Virk, 15-5-1962 IFS Maharashtra, 1987
• Komila Virk - Hindi film actress of Seventies.
• Sharif Virk (I.G.NWFP Police) (Police Service of Pakistan)
• Anwar Virk (D.I.G Police Sheikhupura)
• Davendra Singh of Ghanauli, Virk - Jat, From Ambala district was in the List of Punjab Chiefs.
• Arpinder Singh (Virk) (born 30 December 1992) is an Indian triple jumper. He recently claimed a gold medal at the 2018 Asian Games. He also claimed a bronze medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. He won Gold Medal in Asian Games-2018 in Athletics, Men's triple jump.

• Swarn Singh Virk‎ is an Indian rower He was born on 20 February 1990 at Dalelwala Mansa in Punjab, India. He won the gold medal in the 2018 Asian Games in Men's Quadruple sculls.

• Harbans Singh Virk (Lt Col) fought Indo-Pak war 1947-48 bravely for which he was awarded Mahavir Chakra.

Gallery

• 

  Sardar Deepinder Singh Virk of Bharatgarh. He is the 9th generation descendant of Nawab Kapur Singh Virk, who was founder of Singhpuria Misl. Estate:- Bharatgarh, Dynasty:- Virk Jats

• 

  Nawab Bhagwan Singh Virk of Kandhola (1902-1936) , This Picture was taken in England when he studied Medicine there. Credit:- Nawab Baleshwar Singh Virk of Kandhola (Grandson of Nawab Bhgawan Singh and Descendants of Great Ruler Nawab Kapur Singh Virk of Singhpuria)

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  Nawab Baleshwar Singh Virk of Kandola visits His ancestor Sardar Kushal Singh Virk of Singhpuria Samadhi at Jalandhar, Punjab.. Dynasty:- Virk Jat. Source - Jat Kshatriya Culture

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  Sardarni Harjit Kaur of Kandhola Wife of Nawab Atamainder Singh Singhpuria Of Kandhola. Dynasty:- Virk Jat, Estate:- Kandhola, Credit:- Nawab Baleshwar Singh Virk. Source - Jat Kshatriya Culture

• 

  Sardar Deepinder Singh Virk, the direct descendant of the mighty Nawab Kapur Singh Virk.

See also

• Hyrcania
• Varik
• Malwa

Further reading

• Ram Swarup Joon: History of the Jats, Rohtak, India (1938, 1967)

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