18. No more Conflicts, no more Controversies

By asserting that the Vedas look upon Narayan and Shiva as identical and unified divine entities, Shri Swaminarayan settled the age old conflict and controversy that bothered the followers of Shaivism and Vaishnavism. By striking a balance between Gnanmarga (the path of pure knowledge) and Karmayoga (the path of selfless action), He advised people to follow both these paths. For, righteousness, knowledge or self-abnegation (Vairagya) alone will not help the seeker to realise God (Atmaswarupa).If these three are tempered with devotion (Bhakti) then only one could succeed in curbing one's ego (I-ness and My-ness) and finally realise the Supreme Lord (Paramatma) or the Ultimate Reality. He showed the validity of this truth by the example of His own conduct and thus removed all doubts created by scholarly disputes.