Hindu Deities & Avatars Quiz
Test your knowledge of Hindu gods, goddesses, and the avatars of Vishnu — drawn from the Eternal Raga Eternal Gyan library. Every answer links to the full story.
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1. Whose discus (chakra) severed the demon Svarbhanu's head, creating Rahu and Ketu?
- • Shiva's Trishula
- ✓ Vishnu's Sudarshana Chakra
- • Indra's Vajra
- • Krishna's Kaumodaki
Answer: During the churning of the ocean, Svarbhanu disguised himself as a god to drink the amrit. Vishnu beheaded him with the Sudarshana Chakra — but the nectar had already made him immortal, so his head became Rahu and his body Ketu.
Read the full story →2. The phrase '33 Koti Devata' is best translated as 33 ___ of deities.
- ✓ types (categories)
- • crore (330 million)
- • thousand
- • incarnations
Answer: 'Koti' has two meanings — 'type/category' and 'crore'. The Vedas speak of 33 types of devas, not 330 million gods. It is one of Hinduism's most famous mistranslations.
Read the full story →3. The 33 Vedic deities are 8 Vasus, 11 Rudras, 12 Adityas, and which two more?
- • Agni and Vayu
- • Brahma and Vishnu
- ✓ Indra and Prajapati
- • Surya and Chandra
Answer: Per the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad, the 33 comprise 8 Vasus + 11 Rudras + 12 Adityas + Indra + Prajapati.
Read the full story →4. In the Trimurti, which deity is the preserver of the universe?
- • Brahma
- ✓ Vishnu
- • Shiva
- • Indra
Answer: The Trimurti assigns creation to Brahma, preservation to Vishnu, and dissolution to Shiva.
Read the full story →5. What is the first avatar of Vishnu in the Dashavatara sequence?
- ✓ Matsya (the fish)
- • Kurma (the tortoise)
- • Varaha (the boar)
- • Narasimha (the man-lion)
Answer: The Dashavatara begins with Matsya, the fish who saved the Vedas and Manu from the great flood.
Read the full story →6. How many principal avatars of Vishnu are counted in the Dashavatara?
- • Eight
- • Twelve
- • Twenty-four
- ✓ Ten
Answer: 'Dasha' means ten — the ten principal descents of Vishnu, from Matsya to the future Kalki.
Read the full story →7. Narasimha incarnated to slay which demon king protected by a clever boon?
- • Hiranyaksha
- ✓ Hiranyakashipu
- • Ravana
- • Mahishasura
Answer: Hiranyakashipu's boon barred death by man or beast, indoors or out, day or night. Narasimha — neither man nor animal — slew him on a threshold at dusk.
Read the full story →8. Nataraja, the Lord of Dance, is a form of which deity?
- • Vishnu
- • Krishna
- ✓ Shiva
- • Ganesha
Answer: Nataraja depicts Shiva performing the Tandava — the cosmic dance of creation and dissolution, framed by a ring of fire.
Read the full story →9. What is the vahana (vehicle) of Lord Ganesha?
- ✓ A mouse
- • A peacock
- • A bull
- • A lion
Answer: Ganesha rides a mouse (Mushaka) — a symbol of mastering desire and the ego, however small an obstacle may seem.
Read the full story →10. Hanuman is revered as the supreme devotee (bhakta) of which deity?
- • Krishna
- • Shiva
- • Vishnu
- ✓ Rama
Answer: Hanuman embodies perfect dasya bhakti — devotion as service — to Lord Rama, placing his immense power entirely at his lord's feet.
Read the full story →11. Garuda, the mighty eagle, serves as the vahana (mount) of which deity?
- • Shiva
- ✓ Vishnu
- • Indra
- • Brahma
Answer: Garuda, king of birds and sworn enemy of serpents, is the eternal mount of Lord Vishnu.
Read the full story →12. In her most iconic form, Goddess Kali is depicted standing upon which deity?
- • Vishnu
- • Brahma
- ✓ Shiva
- • Ganesha
Answer: Kali is shown standing on the prone Shiva — the moment she steps on him and bites her tongue, her cosmic fury is stilled.
Read the full story →13. Goddess Durga earned the name Mahishasuramardini by slaying which demon?
- • Raktabija
- • Shumbha
- ✓ Mahishasura
- • Narakasura
Answer: Durga destroyed the buffalo-demon Mahishasura after a fierce battle, becoming Mahishasuramardini — 'slayer of Mahisha'.
Read the full story →14. Goddess Saraswati, patron of knowledge and music, is traditionally seated with which bird?
- ✓ A swan (hamsa)
- • A peacock
- • An owl
- • An eagle
Answer: Saraswati's vahana is the hamsa (swan), symbol of discernment — the power to separate truth from illusion, like milk from water.
Read the full story →15. Kartikeya (Murugan), the warrior son of Shiva, rides which bird?
- • An eagle
- ✓ A peacock
- • A swan
- • A rooster
Answer: Kartikeya's mount is the peacock (Paravani); a rooster also adorns his battle banner.
Read the full story →16. When the celestial river Ganga descended to earth, whose matted locks broke her mighty fall?
- • Brahma
- • Vishnu
- ✓ Shiva
- • Indra
Answer: Shiva caught the torrential Ganga in his jata (matted hair) and released her gently, so the earth would not be shattered by her force.
Read the full story →17. Surya, the sun god, rides a chariot drawn by how many horses?
- • Five
- ✓ Seven
- • Ten
- • Twelve
Answer: Surya's chariot is drawn by seven horses, often said to represent the seven colours of light or the seven days of the week.
Read the full story →18. Lord Vishnu reclines in cosmic sleep upon which thousand-headed serpent?
- • Vasuki
- ✓ Shesha (Ananta)
- • Takshaka
- • Kaliya
Answer: Vishnu rests on Shesha (Ananta), the endless serpent floating on the ocean of milk between cycles of creation.
Read the full story →19. Parashurama, the sixth avatar of Vishnu, is known for wielding which weapon?
- • A bow
- ✓ An axe (parashu)
- • A discus
- • A trident
Answer: Parashurama means 'Rama with the axe' — the parashu was granted to him by Lord Shiva.
Read the full story →20. Which avatar of Vishnu is yet to come, prophesied to appear at the end of Kali Yuga?
- ✓ Kalki
- • Buddha
- • Vamana
- • Krishna
Answer: Kalki, the tenth avatar, is foretold to appear riding a white horse to end the age of darkness and restore dharma.
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