Who among the following were the principal deities of the Vedic pantheon?
(A) Agni
(B) Vishnu
(C) Indra
(D) Shiva
(E) Soma

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
(1) (B), (D), (A) Only
(2) (B), (C), (D) Only
(3) (A), (C), (E) Only
(4) (C), (D), (E) Only

3

The correct answer is Option 3 - 3  [(A), (C), (E) Only]

Given names of the gods:

(A) Agni (Vedic God)
(B) Vishnu
(C) Indra (Vedic God)
(D) Shiva
(E) Soma (Vedic God)

There were several pre-existing traditions of thought, religious belief and practice, including the early Vedic tradition, known from the Rigveda, compiled between c.1500 and 1000 BCE. The Rigveda consists of hymns in praise of a variety of deities, especially Agni, Indra and Soma. Many of these hymns were chanted when sacrifices were performed, where people prayed for cattle, sons, good health, long life, etc.

Remaining options:

Vishnu: While Vishnu becomes a significant deity in later Hinduism, particularly in the post-Vedic period, he is not one of the principal deities in the early Vedic texts.

Shiva: Shiva, too, gains prominence in later Hinduism, especially in the Puranic literature. He is not a principal deity in the early Vedic texts.