Sage Ashtavakra says,

yadi dEhaM pruthakrutya citivishramya tiShThasi |
adhunaiva sukhI ShaantO bhamdhamukto Bavishyasi || (A-G. 1. 4)

  Meaning, "If you discard body consciousness and establish yourself in your true image of 'Self', cit svaroopa, aware of pure consciousness (without any attachment of worldly desires and interests), that very moment you will experience peace, happiness and bliss, as also, get liberated (from sansar)"!

   Normally we, the humans, are conscious of our body and give importance to it. We feed it, take it to doctor when it shows a little disease, or gives pain. We dress it properly and try to protect from sun, wind, rain, and cold. We are totally at the mercy of the physical body from the time of birth to death. If we are helpless, we depend on others for this purpose of maintenance of the body. We are not ashamed of lying on the operation table and boast of the treatment we give to the body. But, alas, little do we know it is of no use to serve this body when it ought to serve us! The body is there to serve us, to fulfill the purpose for which we have taken this human form. It is not to feed it, entertain it or serve it that we have taken this human form, says the wise one! It is just like keeping a dog at home. In the beginning, it serves us and then we serve it till it dies,giving it food, taking it out for walk and, to doctor if it is ill. It becomes a full time job to attend a dog (or a cat) we keep as a pet? Now, this is a dilemma. Once a child is born, the parents are busy seeing through its growth, education, celebrating marriage and all that! Finally, a day will come when the reality dawns. With all the family, friends, relations and all that, you feel all alone, lonely, miserable, often depressed to the verge of committing suicide! This is avidya. The jiva will never realize the fact that all this transient world and its objects including men, are not capable of giving peace, happiness and liberation. So Sage Ashtavakra says, give up this notion- "I am the body". The body is ever changing from childhood and adolescent stage to ripe old age. Literally appearance shape and form change beyond recognition! 

    Ultimately, a day will come when this physical body stops functioning and will be put back to earth in an inert state. What is it that the jiva has attained during its youthful stage when it was capable of attaining everything, including attaining to the brahmn'! It was just making merry, using the senses as errand boys to satisfy the fickle mind due to ahankar (ego)? Yes, truly so. Never did the jiva, even for a second, thought about the purpose of taking birth, knowing who it is and why it is struggling to die? Is feeding the body and earning for feeding the whole purpose of life? It seems so in the absence of a good teacher. Hence, there comes an Ashtavakra  (to only a few lucky ones) who reminds us of 'what we are, as jivas here, and what exactly is our true nature. Then comes peace happiness and liberation.
   At this juncture, it is important to note that the human body is so designed that it develops since childhood in such a way that it needs no external intervention. It is developing from an impregnated cell by constant division and multiplication and the initial stage is equipped with all knowledge, information, technology to proceed further in development appropriately to suit the jiva! It is others who intervene in its growth and development by certain customs and traditions of the family, by the available food and nutrition and opportunities. Part of the ailments of the physical body comes from too much of indulgences, excess of consumption of undesirable things, and wrong methods adopted in life such as life style, habits, etc.
   It is the love for the body, too much pampering it, giving too much of attention, called abhinivesha, that is bad. I is designed to eat and digest food and grow. After a stipulated time the body becomes weak and stops working. The physical body is so designed with the five elements (70 per cent water, 28 per cent earth or food obtained from soil, and the remaining space, air and fire) keeping it working! for a certain purpose. It is said, "Shiva only becomes a jiva in order to experience the world He has created. He departs when He is satisfied that everything is functioning normally!"
     Hence, the purpose of the jiva is to take to yoga, ayurveda, and live a sattvic way of life, run its stipulated time and attain to Shiva. Once the jiva realizes this truth, the journey of the jiva on this planet ends. parameshvara darshanameva purushartha sadhanam | says, Sri Ramakrishna.

(to be contd.)