Kaul

Kaul (also spelled Koul; Kashmiri: 𑆑𑆿𑆬 (Sharada), कौल (Devanagari), كَوْلَ (Nasta'liq), romanized: kaula, lit. 'well born') is a Kashmiri surname that is used by the Kashmiri Pandit community in India.^[1]^[2]^[3]

The word Koul, meaning well born, is derived from Kula, the Sanskrit term for family or clan.

Origins

There are several theories regarding the origins of Kaul as a surname.

Koul from Mahakoul

One says that it is associated with the word Mahakaul (Sanskrit: महाकौळ, romanized: mahākauḷa), an epithet for Shiva. Shiva followers were thus called Kauḷa.^[4] Koul therefore means a devotee of Shiva.^[5]

Koul/Kaul from Shakta worship

Another states that since the Saraswat Brahmins of Kashmira were believers in Shaivism and Shakta, the peak of Shaivism in Kashmir around the 9th–12th century gave rise to use of the name.^[6] This has led many scholars to believe that almost all Kashmiri Pandits were Kauls/Kouls and they were later subdivided into different nicknames, then with the passage of time these nicknames became surnames. In recent years the use of the nicknames is being progressively discarded and the surname Kaul/Koul is being adopted by almost all such people. The word Kaul/Koul is associated with being an Aghoreshwar (Sanskrit: अघोरेश्वर, romanized: aghōrēśvara, lit. 'enlightened'). The Sādhakas (Sanskrit: साधक, romanized: sādhaka, lit. 'practitioners') of the Tantra, associated with Shakti worship, are believed to reach the top of the spiritual ladder, and thus become a Kaul/Koul.^[6]^[7]

Notable people with Kaul surname

Anita Kaul (1954–2016), Indian Administrative Service officer
Bansi Kaul (born 1949), Indian writer and theatre director
Bharat Kaul, Bengali actor
Brij Mohan Kaul (1912–1972), commanded the Indian forces in the Sino-Indian War
Ekta Kaul (born 1987), Indian television actress
Hari Kishan Kaul (1869–1942), Kashmiri politician and author
Josh Kaul (born 1980), 45th Attorney General of Wisconsin
Kailas Nath Kaul (1905–1983), Indian botanist and agricultural scientist, brother of Kamala
Kamala Kaul Nehru (1899–1936), Indian freedom fighter and wife of first Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru
Kanchi Kaul (born 1982), Indian TV actress and model
Krishna Kaul (born 1989), Indian rapper, known as KR$NA, and formerly as Prozpekt
Mahendra Kaul (1922–2018), British BBC broadcaster and television presenter
Manav Kaul (born 1986), Indian theatre director, playwright, actor and film-maker
Mani Kaul (1944–2011), Indian film director
Manohar Kaul (1925–1999), Indian painter
Matthias Kaul (1949–2020), German musician
Niklas Kaul (born 1998), German athlete specializing in the decathlon
P. K. Kaul (1929–2007), ambassador of India to the United States (1986–1989)
Raj Kaul, Nehru family patriarch
Robert H. Kaul (1911–2000), Associate Justice of the Kansas Supreme Court
Sheila Kaul (1915–2015), Indian politician, cabinet minister
Siddarth Kaul (born 1990), Indian cricketer, medium pace bowler
S. K. Kaul (born 1934), Air Chief Marshal of the Indian Air Force, Chief of Air Staff (India) (1993–1995)
Sanjay Kaul (born 1962), Indian businessman and founder of the University of Petroleum and Energy Studies* Sanjay Kishan Kaul (born 1958), Judge, Supreme Court of India and former lawyer
Triloki Nath Kaul (1913–2000), Indian diplomat, Indian Foreign Secretary (1967–1972)
V. N. Kaul (born 1943), Indian civil servant, Comptroller and Auditor General (2002–2008)

Notable people with Koul surname

Anil Koul (born 1972), Indian pharmacologist
Omkar Nath Koul (1941–2018), Indian linguist
Scaachi Koul (born 1991), Canadian journalist and writer
Shadi Lal Koul (1954–2020), Kashmiri actor

References

^ Kumar Suresh Singh (1996). People of India: Delhi. Manohar Publishers for Anthropological Survey of India. p. 324. ISBN 978-8173040962. Retrieved 18 March 2012.
^ Schofield, Victoria (2003). Kashmir in conflict. I.B. Tauris & Co. p. 4. ISBN 1860648983. Retrieved 25 June 2012., ...looms rose to 24,000 by 1813. Despite the religious oppression that many hindus were subjected , they were however, useful to the Afghans because of their administrative experience. Kashmiri Pandits were not prevented into entering into government service & there were some families whose names consistently appear in public service - the Dhars, Kauls, Tikkus & Saprus.
^ Irvin Molotsky, Wayne King (2 September 1986). "The Kauls are Everywhere". nytimes.com. Retrieved 8 August 2012.
^ Bhat, S.; Koal, J. N.; Dhar, B. B.; Shalia, Arun (2008). Kashmiri Scholars Contribution to Knowledge & World Peace. New Delhi: APH Publishing. p. 131. ISBN 978-81-313-0402-0. Retrieved 18 March 2012.
^ Kaul, Ram Krishen (1982). Sociology of Names and Nicknames of India, with special reference to Kas'mira. New Delhi: Utpal Publications. p. 98. Retrieved 7 July 2012.
^ ^a ^b Bhat, S.; Kaul, J. N.; Dhar, B. B.; Shalia, Arun (2008). Kashmiri Scholars Contribution to Knowledge & World Peace. New Delhi: APH Publishing. pp. 130–133. ISBN 978-81-313-0402-0. Retrieved 18 March 2012.
^ Koal, Ram Krishen (1982). Sociology of Names and Nicknames of India, with special reference to Kas'mira. New Delhi: Utpal Publications. p. 161.

This page lists people with the surname Kaul.
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