Oct 04, 2007 05:37 PM
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(Updated Apr 14, 2009 11:11 PM)
Virks in the Rig Veda According to the Jat historian, Bhim Singh Dhaiyas book "Aryan Tribes and the Rig Veda", a prince named Dasyave Vrika, is mentioned in the Rig Veda (Vlll/51/2, Vlll/55/1, Vlll/56/1). He can be identified with the Virk clan of the Jats and also with the Virk people in the Iranian history, who gave their name to the province of Varkania /Hyrcania in Iran.
Virks in other ancient texts
According to the Patanjali Bhashya (4.6-114), Ashtadhyayi (l-6-155), Mahabhasya( 4-2-154) and Kashikavarti (1-1-175), Raja Virk Vardhan built forts in:
Kasrud (present-day Mandsor) in central India Shakil (Sialkot) Sosaph Dathaaprastha Naudipur Koak Kandewa Mula Pava Datt Karkar Virkgary.
According to Thakur Yugendrapal, the Virks are the Vahilkas (they are believed to be the founders of Bahawalpur) who are mentioned in the Mahabharata and who took one-sixth of the income of the King Shalya, who was the king of the Madras and ruled over Madradesa (modern-day Sialkot). In the 4th century AD, they had a powerful kingdom. They were the contemporaries of the 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 themselves as Virks. Rock inscriptions of Yasodharman have been found in Mandsor. Their reign in Malwa came to an end in 462 AD.
Physical Attributes
Historically, the Virks had unique physical attributes. In the history books, they have been described as tall, muscular, courageous and loyal.These physical and mental attributes made them ideal candidates for recruitment in the armies of various Kings and Maharajas. They served in the British Army, and still comprise a sizeable portion of the Pakistani and Indian armies.
