Kadru is a prominent figure in Hindu mythology, particularly in the Puranas, where she is recognized as a Nāga queen and the mother of serpents.
According to the Mahabharata and the Puranas, Kadru was one of the daughters of Daksha, a legendary figure and progenitor of many beings in Hindu cosmology.
Kadru and her younger sister Vinata were wives of the sage Kashyapa. Kadru asked for a thousand Nāga (serpent) sons, and Vinata, not to be outdone, asked for just two sons, provided they outrank her sister's.
Kadru is a symbol of cunning and maternal power. She is revered as the progenitor of the Nāgas, which are considered both divine and earthly beings, associated with water, fertility and cosmic forces in Hindu mythology.
Kadru's mythology illustrates themes of rivalry, deception, and the consequences of clever maneuvering in the larger tapestry of Hindu narratives.
The Artwork
The image of Kadru at the top of this post came from one of the more unique sessions of Dr. Sketchy’s Anti-Art School several years ago. The model was Little Miss Risk and she brought along her pet albino python.
The resulting drawing from that three-hour session are some of my all-time favorites, inspiring many goddesses in addition to Kadru.
Here are the sketches that led up to the final image.
This is going to be a shorter post, since I’m just returning from a week away in the sunny Okanagan Valley. Thanks for reading!
See you next week.