Ekam sath viprah bahudha vadanthi

Once there was big fight between between three Hindus and the fight was about who was the Supreme Lord- Lord Mahavishnu or Lord Shiva or Devi Bhagavathi. They decided to get the truth from a learned saint who was living in a hermitage near their village.

Sage was sitting there after his morning sadhana. All the three of them paid their respect by prostrating at his feet and sage asked why they were there. Then they told him about their fight and how each one thought their Ishtadevatha or favorite deity was the Supreme Power. 

Sage told them to sit down and asked them:

Do you follow Sanathanan Dharma ? 

They said they all believe and follow Sanatana Dharma. 

Then sage took them to a house where a joint family lived that included  grand parents,parents sons, daughters, grand children etc. Sage asked one of the daughters-in law of the old couple to help him clear a doubt of his guests. They were more than willing to help Swamiji and eldest daughter-in-law came there to help.

Sage asked the old couple who she was and they said she was their daughter-in-law. Then sage called her husband and asked who she was and of course husband said she was his wife. Then he called the second son and asked him who she was and he said she was his sister-in-law. Next sage called her daughter and asked who she was and she said she was her beloved mother. Then she called one of the grand children from the old couple's daughter and asked who she was and he said she was his aunt. 

What is so great about this? The three guests who were fighting did not understand why sage was doing this in front of them. 

Sage asked them: 

Did you see how the same person  became a mother, daughter-in-law, sister-in-law, aunt etc to different people? She is just one person and different people call her by different names. Similarly, the favorite deity of each one of you is the same Supreme power known by different names or called by different names by different people. You said you believe and follow Sanatana Dharma and the most important teaching of our dharma is the Mahavaakya: "ekam sad Vipra bahudha vadanthi. (Truth is one, the wise speak it in different ways) I am ashamed to see you fighting over the Supreme power that is with in all of you and pervading the whole universe. You can call that power by any name of your choice, but fighting over the superiority is showing disrespect to the Sarvaantharyami. 

Sage thanked the family members and left for his hermitage and the fanatics realized their mistake and became wiser and better. They started spreading the word among their friends and inspired them to unite and stay under the same Supreme Power known by different names.

May Bhagavan lead us from darkness to light!