All Paths Lead to the Same Divine
John Aguiar
A few days ago, I had an interesting conversation with a shipai (temple attendant) working at a well-known temple in Goa. During our discussion, he mentioned that he had recently visited the Shrine of Our Lady of Velankanni along with his Catholic neighbours. What fascinated me was not merely his visit, but the beautiful story behind it.
Curious, I asked him, “You belong to the Hindu faith and work in a temple. How did you decide to visit a Catholic shrine?”
He smiled and explained that his Christian neighbours had planned a pilgrimage to Velankanni and invited him to join them. He was interested but uncertain. As a devoted Hindu and a temple employee, he felt it would be appropriate to seek guidance before making the journey.
When he discussed the matter with his wife, she suggested a simple yet profound solution. “Why don't you seek the blessings of our deity?” she said. “Take prasad and ask for guidance.”
Following her advice, he approached the temple priest and sought divine permission through the traditional means practiced in the temple. According to him, the deity not only granted permission but also conveyed something remarkable. When he asked whether it was appropriate for him to visit a Christian shrine, the response he received through the divine indications was that the goddess venerated at Velankanni was none other than the same divine mother worshipped in his own temple.
This answer filled him with joy and peace. With a clear conscience and a heart full of faith, he joined his neighbours on the pilgrimage. Upon returning, he spoke of the serenity and spiritual comfort he experienced at Velankanni.
This incident offers a valuable lesson in a world often divided by religious labels and identities. Across India, and particularly in Goa, we find countless examples of people visiting places of worship belonging to different faiths. Hindus visit churches and dargahs; Christians visit temples; Muslims pay respects at shrines revered by people of all communities. Such practices are not signs of confusion in faith but expressions of a deeper understanding of spirituality.
At the heart of every religion lies the search for truth, compassion, love, and peace. Different traditions may use different names, symbols, rituals, and languages, but the divine reality they seek is one. Just as many rivers flow into the same ocean, many spiritual paths lead to the same ultimate truth.
The story of the temple attendant reminds us that God is not confined within walls, denominations, or religious boundaries. The Divine is universal. Human beings may create distinctions, but faith often transcends them.
For centuries, India has nurtured the ideal of religious harmony. The ancient wisdom of "Ekam Sat Vipra Bahudha Vadanti" — "Truth is One, the wise call it by many names" — continues to resonate today. The experience of this humble temple worker is a living example of that timeless truth.
Perhaps if we focus more on what unites us rather than what divides us, we will discover that beneath our different practices and beliefs lies the same yearning for the Divine. And in that realization, we may find not only religious harmony but also lasting peace.
All gods may be worshipped differently and called by different names, but for countless believers, they remain manifestations of the same Divine Presence that guides, protects, and blesses humanity.
