Kaul Kaul (also spelled as Koul, Kaula) is a well-known surname of Kashmiri Pandits. Kauls belong to the Saraswat Brahmin class (which forms the apex of the Indian caste order) & trace their descent to Lord Dattatreya, the legendary son of the sage Atri & Anusuya. Some Kauls trace their origin to Maha Kaul which is another name for Lord Shiva. This has led many scholars to believe that all Shaivas of Kashmir could have been Kauls. This view, however, is not supported by too many scholars. One variant of the surname is Kullu used mostly by Kashmiri Muslims. The anglicized variant Kaula means 'a fool' in Sanskrit . The exact origin of this surname is not very clear, however, it is widely believed that it has origins in 'Kaula' path of Shaivism. The first prime minister of free India Jawaharlal Nehru was also a Kaul. Kauls in Germany & Brazil Kaul is also a well-known surname in Germany (also spelled as Caudl, Caul and