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== राज्ञो रन्तिदेवस्य महिमवर्णनम् ॥ Greatness of Rantideva ==

== राज्ञो रन्तिदेवस्य महिमवर्णनम् ॥ Greatness of Rantideva ==

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, Raja Rantideva in the lineage of Bharata attained immortal glory by his great sacrifice.

The merit of sacrificing even one's creature comforts for the welfare of others has been hailed in the adhyatmik 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, Raja 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 divine intervention 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 brahmana appeared before him.

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 divine intervention 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 brahmana appeared before him.