The daughter of Daksha prajapati and the wife of Kashyapa.

Antecedents: Vishnu – Brahma – Daksha – Kadru.

It is still debated whether Kadru is Kashyapa’s daughter or wife. As per Bhashabharata Adiparva Chapter 65, Marichi, one of Brahma’s manasaputras had a son named Kashyapa. Kashyapa married the thirteen daughters of Daksha – Aditi, Diti, Kala, Danayus, Danu, Simhika, Krodha, Pradha, Vishwa, Vinata, Kapila, Muni, Kadru.  But as per Ramayana Aranyakanda Sarga 14, Kadru is the daughter of Kashyapa and Daksha’s daughter Krodhavasha. Also, Vinata, who is said to be Kadru’s sister as per Mahabharata, is the great granddaughter of Tamra, Kashyapa’s wife and Daksha’s daughter! Tamra – Shuki – Nata – Vinata. Thus Kadru’s mother Krodhavasha and Vinata’s great grandmother Tamra were sisters.

Vinata and Kadru lived as Kashyapa’s wives as per the Mahabharata. Kashyapa was pleased by their devotion and asked them what they wished for. Kadru asked for a thousand snakes as children and Vinata asked for two children who would be stronger than Kadru’s. Kashyapa blessed them and went into the forests to meditate. A few months later, Kadru laid a thousand eggs and Vinata, two. They kept the eggs in pots for incubation. 500 years later, Kadru’s pot broke and a thousand snakes emerged. Vinata was concerned by this, and broke one egg to see how her child was faring. A half developed baby came out and this was Aruna. When Aruna came out of the egg half developed he was angry at his mother Vinata for being impatient. He cursed that Vinata would remain a slave to her sister Kadru for 500 years, and it would be broken by his brother Garuda. He also asked his mother to be patient for another 500 years for Garuda, as per Mahabharata Adiparva Chapter 16 verses 18-23.

Kadru’s prominent children were Shesha, Vasuki, Airavata, Thakshaka, Karkodaka, Dhananjaya, kaliya, Maninaga, Purananaga, Kapiranja, Elaputra, Savama, Nila, Anila, Kanmasha, Shabala, Aryaka, Ugraka, Kalashapotaka, Sumanas, Dadhimukha, Vimala, Pindaka, Aapta, Shakha, Vali, Shikha, Nishthanaka, Hemaguha, Nahusha, Pingala, Bahyakarna, Hastipada, Mungara, Kambala, Ashwatara, Kaleekaka, Vritta, Samvritta, Patta, Shankhamukha, Kushmandaka, Kshemaka, Pindaraka, Karavira, Pushpadamshtra, Vilvaka, Bilwapandura, Mrishkada, Shankha, Shirapurna, Haridraka,  Aparajita, Jyotika, Pannaga, Shrivaha, Kauravya, Dhritarashtra, Sankhapinda, Subahu, Virajas, Shalipinda, Hastipinda, Pitharaka, Sumukha, Kaunapashana, Kuddhara, Kunjara, Prabhakara, Kumuda, Kumudaksha, Tithiri, Halika, Kardama, Bahumulaka, Karkkara, Arkkara, Kandodara, Mahodara. All nagas have evolved from these, as per Mahabharata Adiparva Chapter 35.

Once Vinata said that the tail hairs of Indra’s horse Uchaishravas were all white, Kadru maintained that it was black. It was agreed that whoever lost would become the other’s slave. As per Kadru’s instructions, a few nagas clung to the horse’s tail and made it appear black. Vasuki and a few others refused to support this and Kadru cursed that they would die in Janamejaya’s sarpasatra. Kashyapa didn’t like this. Brahma appeared before Kashyapa and said that this was necessary for nagas who harmed others. He also taught him the vishasamhara skill as per Mahabharata Adiparva Chapter 20.

Once Kadru told Vinata to carry her to Ramaniyaka, an island in the middle of an ocean, which was a beautiful place to stay in. She also told her that her sons – the nagas, should be carried by Garuda. They started out. Garuda flew so high that the nagas began getting burned. Kadru prayed to Indra who caused it to rain heavily. Thus Kadru and her sons were saved as per Mahabharata Adiparva Chapter 25-26.

Kadru worshiped Brahma and stayed at the Brahmasabha as per Mahabharata Sabhaparva Chapter 11. Kadru takes the form of a skandagraha, enters the wombs of pregnant women and eats the unborn children as per Mahabharata Vanaparva Chapter 230.