A Bold Beggar

There were two Rishi - Rishi Shaunak and Abhiprataari. They were the worshippers of Vaayu Dev, the wind god.
One day a hungry young Brahmchaaree came begging for food at lunch time to these Rishi. When the Rishi refused to share with him the food that they were about to take especially in an Aashram, he decided to question them.

"Which God do you worship?" was his first question.
One of the Rishi answered - "You impertinent fellow, my deity is Vaayu Dev who is also called Praan".

The young boy retorted - "The world takes shape in Praan and merges also in it at the end. Praan pervades all that is visible and invisible. Then for whom have you cooked this food? If Praan pervades the Universe, he pervades me also and is pulsating in this hungry body for a few morsels of food. So by denying food to me you are denying the food to your deity."

The Rishi felt ashamed and invited the young man to share their food.

"They learnt a lesson that the spirit is important and not the form."