High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! Kaushika/Koushika/Kaushik is a surname used by Brahmins and Kshatriyas. Origin of Kaushika can be referenced to an ancient Hindu text. There was a Rishi (saint) by the name of "Vishvamitra" literally meaning `friend of the universe`,`vishwa` as in universe and mitra as in `friend`, he was also called as Rishi `Kaushika`. Vishvamitra is famous in many legendary stories and in different works of Hindu mythology.