In the Vedic pantheon, the Rigveda, one of the oldest sacred texts of Hinduism, describes a collection of deities that were revered by the ancient Vedic people. The principal deities among them were:
Agni: Agni is the god of fire and a messenger between the human world and the gods. He is considered the intermediary in various Vedic rituals and is often invoked for sacrifices.
Indra: Indra is the king of the gods and the god of thunder and rain. He is a warrior deity and is celebrated for his strength and victories over demonic forces. Indra is a prominent figure in the Rigveda.
Soma: Soma is associated with a ritual drink made from a plant, possibly a hallucinogenic one. The consumption of Soma was believed to bring about a state of ecstasy and divine inspiration during Vedic rituals.
These three deities—Agni, Indra, and Soma—were central to Vedic rituals and hymns. As for the other 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.
So, the correct combination is (3) (A), (C), (E) Only, as Agni, Indra, and Soma were indeed principal deities in the Vedic pantheon. |
