Kaul: Difference between revisions

{{About||the village in Haryana, India|Kaul Village|the botanist|Kailas Nath Kaul}}

'''Kaul''' (also spelled '''Koul''', '''Caul''', '''Kol''' or '''Cool''' ; {{lang-ks|कौल <small>([[Devanagari]])</small>, {{nq|کول}} <small>([[Nastaʿlīq script|Nastaleeq]])</small>}}) is a surname 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/about/People_of_India.html?id=99c-AQAAIAAJ&redir_esc=y |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 |publisher=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. [[Kulinism]] ([[Bengali language|Bengali]]: কৌলিন্য) are Hindu caste and marriage rules reputedly introduced by [[Shaiva]] Raja [[Ballala Sena]] of [[Sena Dynasty|Sen Emperor]] .<ref>Kulinism Hindu Caste Rules https://www.britannica.com/topic/Kulinism</ref> At the time of Sen Emperor Kashmir was under sen rule and Kulinism was formed there by Sen Brahman. Sen Bramana village currently exists in Kashmir. Its use as a surname or appellation is a derivative of the ancient name ''Kaula'' which means ''well born''<ref>{{cite web |title=Last Name Origins and Meanings |url=http://genealogy.familyeducation.com/surname-origin/kaul |publisher=familyeducation.com |accessdate=5 September 2012}}</ref> and is related to Saivite beliefs.<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>

===Kaul from Mahakaul===

One says that it is associated with the word ''Mahakaul'', 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> Kaul 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#search_anchor |accessdate=7 July 2012|year=1982|publisher=Utpal Publications |location=New Delhi|page=98}}</ref>

===Kaul/Koul 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 century ~ 12th century gave rise to use of the name.<ref name=BhatKaulDhar /> This has led many scholars to believe that almost all Kashmiri Pandits were Kauls/Koul and they were later subdivided into different nicknames, & with the passage of time these nicknames became surnames. In recent years the use of the nicknames is being progressively discarded and 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''.<ref name=BhatKaulDhar1>{{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=130–133}}</ref><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>

* [[Bansi Kaul]] (b. 1949), theatre director

* [[Brij Mohan Kaul]], commanded the Indian forces in the [[Sino-Indian War]]

* [[Ekta Kaul]] (b. 1987), Indian television actress

* [[Josh Kaul]] (b. 1980), 45th [[List of Attorneys General of Wisconsin|Attorney General of Wisconsin]]

* [[Kailas Nath Kaul]] (1905–1983), Indian [[botanist]] and [[agricultural scientist]], brother of Kamala

* [[Kanchi Kaul]], Indian TV actress & model

*[[Krsna (rapper)|Krishna Kaul]] , Indian Rapper

* [[Mahendra Kaul]] (1922-2018), [[BBC]] broadcaster and television presenter

* [[Manohar Kaul]] (1925–1999), painter

* [[Siddarth Kaul]] (b. 1990), Indian cricketer, medium pace bowler

* [[S. K. Kaul]] (b. 1934), [[Air Chief Marshal]] of the [[Indian Air Force]], former [[Chief of Air Staff (India)]] (1993–1995)

* [[Triloki Nath Kaul]] (1913–2000), Indian diplomat, Indian Foreign Secretary (1967 - 1972)

* [[V. N. Kaul]] (b. 1943), Indian civil servant, [[Comptroller and Auditor General of India|CAG]] (2002-2008), [[Padma Bhushan]]

* [[Sanjay Kaul]] (b. 1962), Indian businessman and founder of the University of Petroleum and Energy Studies

* [[Sanjay Kishan Kaul]] (b.1958), Judge, [[Supreme Court of India]] and Former Lawyer