Defence
The legend of Prahlad and his father Hiranyakashipu was first set out in detail in the:
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Answer: Option A — Vishnu Purana
Detailed Solution
The story of Prahlad, a devotee of Vishnu, and his father, the demon king Hiranyakashipu, is told in detail in the Vishnu Purana, and later in the Bhagavata Purana.
The story of Prahlad:
- Hiranyakashipu was a powerful demon (asura) king who received a boon from Brahma that he could not be killed by man or animal, inside or outside, by day or by night, on the ground or in the sky, by any weapon.
- He considered himself invincible and demanded that everyone worship him.
- His son Prahlad was a devoted follower of Vishnu, and refused to worship his father.
- Hiranyakashipu tried many times to kill Prahlad, by poison, by having him thrown from cliffs, trampled by elephants and bitten by snakes, but Prahlad was saved each time by Vishnu.
- His aunt Holika, who was immune to fire, sat with Prahlad in a fire, but she was burnt, while Prahlad survived; this is remembered on the eve of the festival of Holi as "Holika Dahan".
Finally, Vishnu appeared from a pillar as Narasimha (half man, half lion) at dusk, placed Hiranyakashipu on his lap at the threshold of the palace, and killed him with his claws, thus getting around every condition of the boon.
About the Vishnu Purana:
- It is one of the 18 major Puranas (Mahapuranas).
- It is considered one of the oldest and most important Vaishnava Puranas.
- It is in the form of a dialogue between the sage Parashara and his disciple Maitreya.
- It also contains information on geography, cosmology and dynasties, including lists of kings of the Mauryan and other dynasties.
About the Puranas:
- They are texts of myths, legends, genealogies of gods and kings, and religious teachings.
- They were composed and compiled over many centuries, mainly in the Gupta period and after.
Narasimha:
- Narasimha is the fourth avatar of Vishnu.
- Important Narasimha temples include Ahobilam (Andhra Pradesh) and Simhachalam (Andhra Pradesh).
Why not the other options?
- ✗The Rigveda does not contain this story.
- ✗The Mahabharata and Agni Purana are not considered the first detailed source of this legend.
Quick tip
Remember: Prahlad-Hiranyakashipu legend = first detailed in the Vishnu Purana (later Bhagavata Purana); Narasimha = 4th avatar; Holika Dahan on the eve of Holi.
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Vedic Period — Preparation
This question tests your understanding of Vedic Period, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.
The Vedic period followed the arrival of the Indo-Aryans and is divided into the Early (Rig Vedic) and Later Vedic ages. This topic covers the four Vedas, the Brahmanas, Aranyakas and Upanishads, Vedic society, polity, economy and religion, and the rivers and gods mentioned in Vedic texts. Exams often ask which Veda deals with what (the Sama Veda with music, the Atharva Veda with charms and medicine), the most important Rig Vedic god (Indra), and Vedic assemblies such as the Sabha and Samiti. Note how society changed from the Early to the Later Vedic age, especially the rise of the varna system and the growth of kingship. Practise the Vedic period questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.