Which of the following deities is NOT praised in the hymns of Rigveda?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → Narsimha
The early Vedic tradition is known from the Rigveda, which consists of hymns in praise of a variety of deities, especially Agni, Indra and Soma.
Option (1) Agni — Praised in the Rigveda. Agni is one of the deities the hymns especially praise.
Option (2) Indra — Praised in the Rigveda. Indra too is one of the deities the hymns especially praise.
Option (3) Soma — Praised in the Rigveda. Soma is the third deity the hymns especially praise.
Option (4) Narsimha — Not praised in the Rigveda. Narsimha (Narasimha), the man-lion avatar of Vishnu, belongs to the later tradition of Vaishnavism, in which Vishnu was worshipped as the principal deity; he is not a deity of the Rigvedic hymns.
Note: The deity Narasimha is not in NCERT (2026-27); it is explained here for the benefit of the students.
NCERT (2026-27): “2.1 The sacrificial tradition … 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.…” |