Kaul

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For the village in Haryana, India, see Kaul, Kaithal. For the radio station in Texas, see KOUL.

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 Kaul/Koul, in turn, is derived from Kuḷa (Sanskrit: कुळ, romanized: kuḷa, lit. 'clan, family').

Origins

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

Kaul/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] Kaul/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

Portrait of Radha Krishan Kaul, an astrologer of the Sikh Empire. Pahari Sikh; attributed to Chhaju Ram, from the family of Nainsukh of Guler, ca.1840

Notable people with Koul surname

See also

References

  1. ^ Kumar Suresh Singh (1996). People of India: Delhi. Manohar Publishers for Anthropological Survey of India. p. 324. ISBN 978-8173040962. Retrieved 18 March 2012.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ Irvin Molotsky, Wayne King (2 September 1986). "The Kauls are Everywhere". nytimes.com. Retrieved 8 August 2012.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ Koal, Ram Krishen (1982). Sociology of Names and Nicknames of India, with special reference to Kas'mira. New Delhi: Utpal Publications. p. 161.
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