Rantideva (रन्तिदेवः)

The merit of sacrificing even one's creature comforts for the welfare of others has been hailed in the spiritual tradition. This is especially important in the case of food and water, which are necessary to sustain life in the body. Needless to say it requires immense self-control to forego these fundamental requirements. Among the examples cited in the Puranas, King Rantideva in the lineage of Bharata attained immortal glory by his great sacrifice.

In his discourse, Sengalipuram Sri B.Damodara Dikshitar said Rantideva once went without food and water for 48 days. One can imagine the kind of famine that must have struck his kingdom for a king to be reduced to such dire straits. He was such a noble ruler that he would give away whatever anyone sought. On that occasion even though he had become weak and suffered intense hardship he remained calm. As if by Providence on the 49th morning there came to him some porridge (rice cooked in milk with sugar and ghee), and when he was intending to eat it, a man belonging to a high caste appeared before him.

A great devotee who had the insight to see the Lord in every being, Rantideva welcomed his guest and gave him a portion of the dish and he left gladly. When he was about to eat the remaining porridge, another guest belonging to a low caste came before him. The king who treated every visitor as the Lord Himself offered a share of the porridge to him. After he left another stranger appeared in his place surrounded by dogs. Without any hesitation Rantideva apportioned all the porridge that was left between his guest and his dogs.

Finally, only some water remained to quench his thirst and when he was about to drink it, a person from the lowest rung of society sought some water from him. The king took great pity on him who was stricken with exhaustion and said, "I do not seek from the Lord the highest position attended with the eightfold Yogic power or even final beatitude (cessation of rebirth). Dwelling in their heart (as the sufferer) I would rather undergo the suffering of all embodied souls so that they may be relieved of misery," and gladly gave him the water. The Trinity, Brahma, Vishnu and Siva, who had tested his forbearance as his guests, revealed themselves and blessed him.