Kaul (also spelled Koul; ks, कौल (

Devanagari Devanagari ( ; , , Sanskrit pronunciation: ), also called Nagari (),Kathleen Kuiper (2010), The Culture of India, New York: The Rosen Publishing Group, , page 83 is a left-to-right abugida (a type of segmental writing system), based on the a ...

)) is a surname used by the

Kashmiri Pandit The Kashmiri Pandits (also known as Kashmiri Brahmins) are a group of Kashmiri Hindus and a part of the larger Saraswat Brahmin community of India. They belong to the Pancha-Gauda, Pancha Gauda Brahmin group from the Kashmir Valley, a mountai ...

community in India., ''...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.'' The word ''Koul'', meaning ''well born'', is derived from ''Kula'', the

Sanskrit Sanskrit (; attributively , ; nominalization, nominally , , ) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan languages, Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in South Asia after its predecessor languages had Trans-cul ...

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 ''Mahakoul'', an

epithet An epithet (, ), also byname, is a descriptive term (word or phrase) known for accompanying or occurring in place of a name and having entered common usage. It has various shades of meaning when applied to seemingly real or fictitious people, di ...

for

Shiva Shiva (; sa, शिव, lit=The Auspicious One, Śiva ), also known as Mahadeva (; ɐɦaːd̪eːʋɐ, or Hara, is one of the principal deities of Hinduism. He is the Supreme Being in Shaivism, one of the major traditions within Hin ...

. ''Shiva'' followers were thus called ''

Kaula Kaula may refer to: People * Prithvi Nath Kaula (1924–2009), Indian librarian * William J. Kaula (1871–1953), American watercolor painter * William M. Kaula (1926–2000), Australian-born American geophysicist Other uses * USS ''Kaula'' (AG- ...

''. Koul therefore means a devotee of Shiva.

Koul/Kaul from Shakta worship

Another states that since the Saraswat Brahmins of Kas'mira were believers in Shaivism and Shakta, the peak of Shaivism in Kashmir around the 9th–12th century gave rise to use of the name. This has led many scholars to believe that almost all Kashmiri Pandits were Kauls/Koul 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 ''aghoreshwara'' or enlightened. The practitioners ''(sadhaks)'' of the ''Tantra'', associated with Shakti worship, are believed to reach the top of the spiritual ladder, and thus become a ''Kaul/Koul''.

Notable people with Kaul surname

Anita Kaul Anita Kaul (Given name#Name at birth, née Kripalani;19 September 1954 – 10 October 2016) was an Indian Administrative Service officer best known for her contributions to the Indian education sector. She was a defining voice of the Right to ...

(1954–2016), Indian Administrative Service officer *

Bansi Kaul Bansi Kaul (23 August 1949 – 6 February 2021) was an Indian theatre director and the founder of Rang Vidushak, a theatre group in Bhopal. He was a recipient of the Padma Shri, India's fourth highest civilian honor, in 2014, and the Sangeet Nat ...

(born 1949), Indian writer and theatre director *

Bharat Kaul Bharat Kaul is an Indian actor mainly known for villainous and antagonistic roles in Bengali films Bengali cinema may refer to: * Cinema of Bangladesh, also called Dhallywood * Cinema of West Bengal Tollywood, also known as Cinema of We ...

, Bengali Actor *

Brij Mohan Kaul Brij Mohan Kaul (1912-1972) was a Lieutenant General in the Indian Army. He served as the Chief of General Staff during 1961–1962 and was regarded as a key architect of Indian military response to the Chinese challenge. In October 1962, he ...

, commanded the Indian forces in the Sino-Indian War *

Ekta Kaul Ekta Kaul (born 16 May 1987) is an Indian actress who mainly works in Hindi television. She is best known for her portrayal of Sahiba Agarwal in '' Rab Se Sohna Isshq'', Dr. Suhani Malhotra in '' Bade Acche Lagte Hain'' and Riya Mathur in '' Me ...

(born 1987), Indian television actress *

Hari Kishan Kaul Rai Bahadur Hari Kishan Kaul (1869 – 25 January 1942''The Indian Review'', 1942, vol. 43: obituary) was an Indian administrator from Punjab who, among other positions, briefly served as the Prime Minister of Jammu and Kashmir from 1931 to 19 ...

(1869–1942), Kashmiri politician and author *

Josh Kaul Joshua Lautenschlager Kaul (born February 2, 1981) is an American lawyer, politician and member of the Democratic Party who has served as the 45th Attorney General of Wisconsin since January 2019. Early life and education Kaul is the son of Pe ...

(b. 1980), 45th Attorney General of Wisconsin *

Kailas Nath Kaul Kailas Nath Kaul (1905–1983) was an Indian botanist, naturalist, agricultural scientist, horticulturist, herbalist, plant collector and herpetologist, and a world authority on Arecaceae. He founded India's National Botanical Research Institut ...

(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 Kanchi Kaul (born 24 May 1982) is an Indian actress who predominantly appeared in Telugu films and Hindi television shows. She is best known for playing Ananya Sachdev-Samarth in the show ''Ek Ladki Anjaani Si ''opposite Shakti Anand and Shra ...

, Indian TV actress and model * Krishna Kaul , Indian rapper, known as KR$NA, and formerly as Prozpekt * Mahendra Kaul (1922–2018), British BBC broadcaster and television presenter *

Manav Kaul Manav Kaul (born 19 December 1976) is an Indian theatre director, playwright, author, actor and filmmaker. He was nominated for the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in the films '' Tumhari Sulu'' (2017) and '' Saina'' (2021 ...

, Indian theatre director, playwright, actor and film-maker *

Mani Kaul Mani Kaul (25 December 1944 – 6 July 2011) was an Indian director of Hindi films and a reputed figure in Indian parallel cinema. He graduated from the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) where he was a student of Ritwik Ghatak and ...

(1944–2011), Indian film director *

Manohar Kaul Manohar Kaul (1925–1999) was born in Srinagar, Kashmir Kashmir () is the northernmost geographical region of the Indian subcontinent. Until the mid-19th century, the term "Kashmir" denoted only the Kashmir Valley between the Great ...

(1925–1999), Indian painter *

Matthias Kaul Matthias Kaul (29 January 1949 – 1 July 2020) was a German percussionist and composer of classical music. Life and career Born in Hamburg, West Germany, Matthias Kaul studied percussion at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater Hamburg an ...

(1949–2020), German musician * P. K. Kaul (1929-2007), ambassador of India to the United States (1986–1989) * Raj Kaul, Nehru family patriarch *

Robert H. Kaul Robert H. Kaul (August 28, 1911 – March 13, 2000) was a justice of the Kansas Supreme Court from September 27, 1965, to September 17, 1977. Kaul was appointed to the supreme court to take the place of Clair E. Robb who had died in the post. P ...

(1911–2000), Associate Justice of the Kansas Supreme Court *

Siddarth Kaul Siddarth Kaul (born 19 May 1990), also spelled Siddharth Kaul, is an Indian professional cricketer. A fast bowler who bowls at about 130 km/h, he made his first-class debut for Punjab in 2007. Kaul was a part of the victorious India Un ...

(born 1990), Indian cricketer, medium pace bowler *

Sheila Kaul Sheila Kaul (7 February 1915 – 13 June 2015) was a social democratic leader of the Indian National Congress, a politician, cabinet minister and governor, and the oldest living former member of parliament in India at the time of her death. Sh ...

(1915–2015) Indian politician, cabinet minister *

S. K. Kaul Air Chief Marshal Swaroop Krishna Kaul, PVSM, MVC, ADC (born 20 December 1935) is a former Chief of the Air Staff of the Indian Air Force. Kaul served as the Air Chief from 1993 to 1995. Personal life Swaroop Krishna Kaul was born in Lucknow ...

(born 1934), Air Chief Marshal of the Indian Air Force, Chief of Air Staff (India) 1993–1995 *

Triloki Nath Kaul Triloki Nath Kaul (1913 – January 16, 2000) was one of India's foremost diplomats in the 20th century. A member of the Indian Civil Service (ICS), he served in the foreign service branch, culminating in his being appointed Foreign Secretary twic ...

(1913–2000), Indian diplomat, Indian Foreign Secretary 1967–1972 *

V. N. Kaul Vijayendra Nath Kaul was the tenth Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) from 2002 to 2008. He was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2014. Early life and background Vijayendra Nath Kaul was born to Satindra Nath Kaul and his wife Padmavati ...

(born 1943), Indian civil servant, Comptroller and Auditor General 2002–2008 *

Sanjay Kaul Sanjay Kaul (born 27 March 1964) is an Indian political activist and has been a member of the Delhi BJP Executive Committee & spokesperson for Delhi BJP. Armed with strong oratory & leadership skills along with a deep understanding of governa ...

(born 1962), Indian businessman and founder of the University of Petroleum and Energy Studies *

Sanjay Kishan Kaul Sanjay Kishan Kaul is currently the Most senior judge of Supreme Court of India. He is former chief justice of Madras High Court and Punjab and Haryana High Court and former judge of Delhi High Court. He has also served as acting chief justi ...

(b.1958), Judge, Supreme Court of India and former lawyer

Notable people with Koul surname

Anil Koul Anil Koul (born 1 June 1972) is a scientist and former Director of the CSIR-Institute of Microbial Technology (IMTECH), a premier biomedical and biotechnology research institution under Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) under ...

(born 1972), Indian pharmacologist * Omkar Nath Koul (1941–2018), Indian linguist *

Scaachi Koul Scaachi Koul (born February 7, 1991) is a Canadian culture writer at BuzzFeed Canada. She is the author of the book of essays ''One Day We'll All Be Dead and None of This Will Matter'' and was one of the reporters in BuzzFeed's Netflix document ...

(born 1991), Canadian journalist and writer * Shadi Lal Koul (1954–2020), Kashmiri actor

References