APPSC Paper I · Executive Officer Paper II · Topic 4
4 APPSC Paper I Hindu Puranams questions with answers
31 questions from APPSC EO Gr III 2026 Paper II question paper with answers and APPSC EO Paper II Mock 1 with answers. Try each one, then tap Show answer.
Previous-paper questions are as in the original paper. Medha AI wrote the answers and explanations.
4.1Sacred places and kshetrasNotes
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Among these, Shukracharya is the teacher of whom ?
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Answer C. For demons
Shukracharya, son of Bhrigu, is the guru of the asuras (demons), while Brihaspati is the guru of the devas.
Source: APPSC EO Gr III 2026 Paper II (Notification 10/2025), Q13, final key
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Which mountain, sacred in Hinduism and closely associated with Lord Shiva, is prominently mentioned in the Skanda Purana ?
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Answer C. Kailash
Kailasa is Shiva's abode and features prominently in the Skanda Purana, which centres on Shiva and his son Skanda.
Source: APPSC EO Gr III 2026 Paper II (Notification 10/2025), Q48, final key
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In which area (kshetra) is Swami Pushkarini located ?
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Answer C. In Tirumala
Swami Pushkarini is the sacred temple tank beside the Sri Venkateswara temple at Tirumala.
Source: APPSC EO Gr III 2026 Paper II (Notification 10/2025), Q86, final key
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After Bhrigu kicked Vishnu's chest, where did Mahalakshmi go to do penance?
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Answer A. Karaveerapuram (Kolhapur)
Angered that Bhrigu kicked Vishnu's chest, her abode, Mahalakshmi left Vaikuntha for Karaveerapuram (Kolhapur, Maharashtra); Vishnu came to earth searching for her and reached Venkatadri.
Source: Medha AI, based on the EO Paper II course book (Mr.Competitive)
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How many Jyotirlingas of Shiva are traditionally worshipped across India?
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Answer B. 12
The Dvadasha (twelve) Jyotirlingas are listed in the Shiva Purana and the popular Dvadasha Jyotirlinga stotra.
Source: Medha AI, based on the APPSC EO Grade III Paper II syllabus (23/2026)
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According to the legend of Somnath, who worshipped Shiva at Prabhasa to be freed from Daksha's curse?
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Answer C. Chandra
Daksha cursed Chandra to waste away for favouring Rohini; Chandra worshipped Shiva at Prabhasa and was relieved, so the linga is called Somanatha (Lord of Soma).
Source: Medha AI, based on the APPSC EO Grade III Paper II syllabus (23/2026)
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The Kanaka Durga temple at Vijayawada stands on which hill?
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Answer C. Indrakeeladri
The Kanaka Durga temple is on Indrakeeladri at Vijayawada, on the Krishna; Dasara is its main festival.
Source: Medha AI, based on the APPSC EO Grade III Paper II syllabus (23/2026)
4.1Deities, sages and lineagesNotes
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As per the Matsya Purana, who is saved by Lord Vishnu in His Matsya (fish) avatar during the great deluge ?
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Answer B. Manu
The Matsya Purana tells how the fish told King Manu (Vaivasvata) to build a boat and towed it to safety during the deluge.
Source: APPSC EO Gr III 2026 Paper II (Notification 10/2025), Q38, final key
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What critical preservation role does the Matsya avatar of Vishnu fulfill in the Matsya Purāṇa's flood narrative ?
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Answer B. Rescues the Vedas and seeds for mankind
The fish guided the boat carrying Manu, the seeds of all beings and the Vedic knowledge through the deluge, preserving them for the new creation.
Source: APPSC EO Gr III 2026 Paper II (Notification 10/2025), Q39, final key
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According to the Brahma Purāṇa, how is Varaha (the boar incarnation of Vishnu) associated with the Pitrus (ancestors) ?
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Answer B. He performed Shraddha rites for them after rescuing them from a curse
Puranic accounts credit Varaha with the first offering of pindas to the Pitris, so he is linked with the origin of Shraddha rites.
Source: APPSC EO Gr III 2026 Paper II (Notification 10/2025), Q40, final key
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Which phrase best describes the Vishnu Purāṇa's theological stance, as reflected in the identification of Vishnu ?
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Answer C. Vishnu as the all-pervading Brahman
The Vishnu Purana, taught by Parashara, identifies Vishnu with the supreme all-pervading Brahman, the source of creation, preservation and dissolution.
Source: APPSC EO Gr III 2026 Paper II (Notification 10/2025), Q41, final key
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According to the Garuda Purana, what is the primary purpose of human birth ?
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Answer C. Attaining liberation (moksha)
The Garuda Purana stresses that a rare human birth should be used for dharma and the attainment of moksha.
Source: APPSC EO Gr III 2026 Paper II (Notification 10/2025), Q42, final key
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What is the recommended practice in the Garuda Purana to aid a soul after death ?
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Answer B. Performing Shraddha and charity
The Preta Khanda of the Garuda Purana prescribes funeral rites, Shraddha offerings and gifts (dana) to help the departed soul.
Source: APPSC EO Gr III 2026 Paper II (Notification 10/2025), Q43, final key
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What was the main reason for Lord Vishnu's Matsya (Fish) avatar as per the Matsya Purana ?
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Answer B. To recover the stolen Vedas
Matsya preserved the Vedas (and Manu with the seeds of life) through the deluge; among the options, recovering the Vedas is the accepted answer.
Source: APPSC EO Gr III 2026 Paper II (Notification 10/2025), Q44, final key
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What is the main significance of the Kurma avatar of Lord Vishnu as described in the Kurma Purana ?
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Answer B. Supporting the churning of the ocean (Samudra Manthan)
As the tortoise, Vishnu bore Mandara mountain on his back so the devas and asuras could churn the ocean of milk.
Source: APPSC EO Gr III 2026 Paper II (Notification 10/2025), Q46, final key
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The Skanda Purana is traditionally divided into how many sections or khandas ?
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Answer B. 7
The common recension of the Skanda Purana has seven khandas: Maheshvara, Vaishnava, Brahma, Kashi, Avantya, Nagara and Prabhasa.
Source: APPSC EO Gr III 2026 Paper II (Notification 10/2025), Q47, final key
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The story of Shashti Devi is narrated in which Purana ?
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Answer D. In Brahma Vaivarta Puranam
The tale of Shashthi Devi, protector of children and a form of Devasena, is told in the Prakriti Khanda of the Brahma Vaivarta Purana.
Source: APPSC EO Gr III 2026 Paper II (Notification 10/2025), Q101, final key
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Who sent the apsaras Pramlocha to Kandu Maharshi, and why?
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Answer A. Indra, to break his tapas
Indra, fearing the power of Kandu's penance, sent Pramlocha to break it; the Brahma Purana tells the story.
Source: Medha AI, based on the EO Paper II course book (Mr.Competitive)
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In the Kurma Purana, King Durjaya, infatuated with Urvashi, later took refuge with
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Answer A. Kanva
The book tells of Durjaya, a learned Chandravamsha king who neglected his duty through love of Urvashi, then sought refuge with sage Kanva and did penance. The lesson: without control of the senses even the wise fall.
Source: Medha AI, based on the EO Paper II course book (Mr.Competitive)
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Sanaka, Sanandana, Sanatana and Sanatkumara, mind-born sons of Brahma, are together known as
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Answer A. The four Kumaras
Brahma's first mind-born sons refused to beget progeny and remained celibate boy-sages, the Kumaras.
Source: Medha AI, based on the APPSC EO Grade III Paper II syllabus (23/2026)
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Skanda, commander of the gods' army, was born to destroy
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Answer B. Tarakasura
The Skanda Purana tells of Kumaraswami (Skanda), Devasenadhipati, who killed Tarakasura.
Source: Medha AI, based on the EO Paper II course book (Mr.Competitive)
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The Mritasanjivani vidya, by which the dead could be revived, was known to
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Answer D. Shukracharya
Shukracharya, guru of the asuras, had the Mritasanjivani vidya from Shiva.
Source: Medha AI, based on the APPSC EO Grade III Paper II syllabus (23/2026)
4.1Mahapuranas and Upapuranas: contents and narratorsNotes
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Which Purāṇa is the longest, with over 81,000 verses ?
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Answer B. Skanda Purana
The Skanda Purana, about 81,000 shlokas, is the largest of the eighteen Mahapuranas.
Source: APPSC EO Gr III 2026 Paper II (Notification 10/2025), Q49, final key
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In which region did Sūta Mahāmuni narrate the Purāṇa stories to the great sages ?
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Answer B. Naimisharanyam
Suta (Ugrashravas / Romaharshana) narrated the Puranas to Shaunaka and the sages at their long sacrifice in the Naimisha forest.
Source: APPSC EO Gr III 2026 Paper II (Notification 10/2025), Q50, final key
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What is the original name of Sutapauranika ?
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Answer C. Romaharshana
The Suta narrator of the Puranas is Romaharshana (Lomaharshana), the disciple to whom Vyasa taught the Puranas; his son Ugrashravas is also called Suta.
Source: APPSC EO Gr III 2026 Paper II (Notification 10/2025), Q100, final key
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The Venkatachala Mahatmya in the Skanda Purana belongs to which khanda?
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Answer A. Vaishnava Khanda
In the printed seven-khanda arrangement of the Skanda Purana, the Venkatachala Mahatmya is the first part of the Vaishnava Khanda.
Source: Medha AI, based on the APPSC EO Grade III Paper II syllabus (23/2026)
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Which of the following is NOT a khanda of the Skanda Purana?
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Answer B. Uttara Khanda
In the seven-khanda arrangement the Skanda Purana has Maheshvara, Vaishnava, Brahma, Kashi, Avantya, Nagara and Prabhasa khandas.
Source: Medha AI, based on the APPSC EO Grade III Paper II syllabus (23/2026)
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Srinatha's Telugu 'Kasikhandamu' is based on a section of which Purana?
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Answer D. Skanda Purana
Srinatha rendered the Kashi Khanda of the Skanda Purana into Telugu as Kasikhandamu.
Source: Medha AI, based on the APPSC EO Grade III Paper II syllabus (23/2026)
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The Agni Purana was narrated by Agni to which sage?
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Answer C. Vasishtha
In the Agni Purana, Agni teaches Vasishtha; Vasishtha passes it to Vyasa, and the Suta tells it to the sages.
Source: Medha AI, based on the APPSC EO Grade III Paper II syllabus (23/2026)
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Which khanda of the Skanda Purana centres on the region of Ujjayini?
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Answer A. Avanti khanda
The Skanda Purana has seven khandas: Maheshvara, Vaishnava, Brahma, Kashi, Avanti, Nagara and Prabhasa; the Avanti khanda describes Ujjayini and its Mahakaleshvara tradition.
Source: Medha AI, based on the EO Paper II course book (Mr.Competitive)
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'Avimukta kshetra', praised in the Linga Purana as moksha-giving, is another name of:
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Answer D. Kashi
The Linga Purana praises Kashi (Varanasi) as the kshetra that gives moksha; Avimukta, 'never abandoned' by Shiva, is its other name.
Source: Medha AI, based on the EO Paper II course book (Mr.Competitive)
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