Joann47Q9259 at 03:34, 9 March 2026

2026-03-09T03:34:05Z

New page

{{Short description|Kashmiri surname}}
{{About|the surname|other uses|Kaul (disambiguation)}}
{{redirect|Koul|other uses|Koul (disambiguation)}}
{{use Indian English|date=May 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2014}}

{{More citations needed|date=May 2009}}

'''Kaul''' (also spelled '''Koul'''; {{langx|ks|𑆑𑆿𑆬 ([[Sharada script|Sharada]]), कौल ([[Devanagari]]), كۄال ([[Nastaliq|Nasta'liq]])|lit=well born|translit=Kọ̄l}}) is a [[Kashmiris|Kashmiri]] surname that is used by the [[Kashmiri Pandit]] community in [[India]].<ref>{{cite book|author=Kumar Suresh Singh|author-link=Kumar Suresh Singh|title=People of India: Delhi|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=99c-AQAAIAAJ |accessdate=18 March 2012|year=1996|publisher=Manohar Publishers for [[Anthropological Survey of India]]|isbn= 978-8173040962|page=324 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book|first=Victoria |last=Schofield |author-link=Victoria Schofield|title=Kashmir in conflict|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ek00fuXVz1wC&pg=PA118|accessdate=25 June 2012|year=2003 |publisher=I.B. Tauris & Co |isbn= 1860648983 |page=4}}, ''...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.''</ref><ref name=nyt>{{cite news |title=The Kauls are Everywhere |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/09/02/us/washington-talk-briefing-the-kauls-are-everywhere.html |work=nytimes.com |first=Wayne King |last=Irvin Molotsky |date=2 September 1986 |accessdate=8 August 2012}}</ref>

The word ''Kaul'', 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'' ({{langx|sa|महाकौल|translit=Mahākaula}}), an [[epithet]] for [[Shiva]]. ''Shiva'' followers were thus called ''[[Kaula (Hinduism)|Kaula]]''.<ref name=BhatKaulDhar2>{{cite book|first1=S. |last1=Bhat |first2=J. N. |last2=Koal |first3=B. B. |last3=Dhar |first4=Arun |last4=Shalia|title=Kashmiri Scholars Contribution to Knowledge & World Peace|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=It1LePnN2LsC&pg=PA134 |accessdate=18 March 2012|year=2008|publisher=APH Publishing |location=New Delhi |isbn= 978-81-313-0402-0 |pages=131}}</ref> Koul therefore means a devotee of Shiva.<ref name=RamK>{{cite book|first=Ram Krishen |last=Kaul|title=Sociology of Names and Nicknames of India, with special reference to ''Kas'mira'' |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XWcbAAAAYAAJ&q=kaul |accessdate=7 July 2012|year=1982|publisher=Utpal Publications |location=New Delhi|page=98}}</ref>

=== Koul/Kaul from Shakta worship ===

Another states that since the [[Saraswat Brahmin|Saraswat Brahmins of Kashmira]] were believers in [[Shaivism]] and [[Shaktism|Shakta]], the peak of [[Kashmir Shaivism|Shaivism in Kashmir]] around the 9th–12th century gave rise to use of the name.<ref name="BhatKaulDhar">{{cite book|first1=S. |last1=Bhat |first2=J. N. |last2=Kaul |first3=B. B. |last3=Dhar |first4=Arun |last4=Shalia|title=Kashmiri Scholars Contribution to Knowledge & World Peace|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=It1LePnN2LsC&pg=PA134 |accessdate=18 March 2012|year=2008|publisher=APH Publishing |location=New Delhi |isbn= 978-81-313-0402-0 |pages=130–133}}</ref> 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]]'' ({{langx|sa|अघोरेश्वर|lit=enlightened|translit=aghōrēśvara}}). The ''[[Sādhaka|Sādhakas]]'' ({{langx|sa|साधक|lit=practitioners|translit=sādhaka}}) of the ''[[Tantra]]'', associated with ''[[Shakti]]'' worship, are believed to reach the top of the spiritual ladder, and thus become a ''Kaul/Koul''.<ref name="BhatKaulDhar" /><ref name="RamK1">{{cite book|first=Ram Krishen |last=Koal|title=Sociology of Names and Nicknames of India, with special reference to ''Kas'mira'' |year=1982|publisher=Utpal Publications |location=New Delhi|page=161}}</ref>

==Notable people with Kaul surname==
[[File:Portrait of Radha Krishan Kaul, Pahari-Sikh; attributed to Chhajju, from the family of Nainsukh of Guler, ca.1840.jpg|thumb|Portrait of [[Radha Krishan Kaul]], an astrologer of the [[Sikh Empire]]. Pahari-Sikh; attributed to [[Chhaju Ram]], from the family of [[Nainsukh]] of [[Guler chieftaincy|Guler]], ca.1840]]

* [[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 Armed Forces|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), [[List of Wisconsin attorneys general|45th Attorney General of Wisconsin]]
* [[Kailas Nath Kaul]] (1905–1983), Indian botanist and agricultural scientist, brother of [[Kamala Nehru|Kamala]]
* [[Kamala Nehru|Kamala Kaul Nehru]] (1899–1936), [[List of Indian independence activists|Indian freedom fighter]] and wife of first [[Prime Minister of India|Indian Prime Minister]] [[Jawaharlal Nehru]]
* [[Kanchi Kaul]] (born 1982), Indian TV actress and model
* [[KRSNA (rapper)|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|Pratap Kishen Kaul]] (1929–2007), [[List of ambassadors of India to the United States|ambassador of India to the United States]] (1986–1989)
* [[Rajni Kaul]], British [[BBC Hindi]] broadcaster and radio presenter, wife of [[Mahendra Kaul|Mahendra]]
* [[Raj Kaul]], Indian [[Sanskrit]] and [[Persian language|Persian]] scholar and [[Nehru–Gandhi family|Nehru family]] patriarch
* [[Sheila Kaul]] (1915–2015), Indian politician, cabinet minister
* [[Siddarth Kaul]] (born 1990), Indian cricketer, medium pace bowler
* [[S. K. Kaul|Swaroop Krishna Kaul]] (born 1934), [[Air chief marshal (India)|Air Chief Marshal]] of the [[Indian Air Force]], [[Chief of the 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), [[Chief Justice of India|Judge]], [[Supreme Court of India]] and former lawyer
* [[Triloki Nath Kaul]] (1913–2000), Indian diplomat, [[Foreign Secretary (India)|Indian Foreign Secretar]]<nowiki/>[[Foreign Secretary (India)|y]] (1967–1972)
* [[V. N. Kaul|Vijayendra Nath Kaul]] (born 1943), Indian civil servant, [[Comptroller and Auditor General of India|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

== See also ==
* [[Kaula (Hinduism)|Kaula]]

==References==
{{Reflist|40em}}

{{Kashmiri families}}
{{surname|Kaul}}

[[Category:Surnames]]
[[Category:Surnames of Indian origin]]
[[Category:Surnames of Hindu origin]]
[[Category:Kashmiri tribes]]
[[Category:Kashmiri-language surnames]]
[[Category:Kashmiri Pandits]]

Kaul - Revision history

Joann47Q9259 at 03:34, 9 March 2026