Virar's Name: Unveiling Centuries of History Amidst Renaming Calls

• Demand to rename Virar as Dwarkadhish sparks interest in its historical name origins.
• Possible origins include Buddhist 'Viharas', 'Veer' (brave warriors), or 'Viraar Teerth' of Ekvira Devi.
• The region saw influence from Satavahana, Chalukya, Rashtrakuta, Yadava, Portuguese, and Maratha empires.
• Portuguese rule (1534-1739) left architectural and cultural marks, later conquered by Marathas.
• Post-independence, Virar transformed from an agricultural area to a major Mumbai suburb.

Why It Matters: Virar's name holds a deep, multi-layered history, reflecting diverse cultural and linguistic influences.