IMPORTANCE OF SARIRAM

  SUBHASHITHANI:635

Maha kavi Kalidasa in Kumarasambhava:

शरीरमाद्यं खलु धर्मसाधनम्
śarīramādyaṃ khalu dharmasādhanam।
 Body is the means of fulfilment of dharma (for all good deeds).

The meaning of these lines 'Shariramadyam Khalu Dharma Sadhanam' is as follows...

It means that the body is the only means to fulfill all the duties. That's why it is very important to keep the body healthy, because all the duties and tasks have to be accomplished through this body only. Therefore, it is the first duty of man to protect this precious body and keep it healthy. 'Pehla Sukh Nirogi Kaya' is the basic mantra to stay healthy. 'om 'om 'om- (Speaking tree)

We have from "Thirumandiram" of Thirumoolar:

உடம்பினை முன்னம் இழுக்கென் றிருந்தேன்
உடம்பினுக் குள்ளே உறுபொருள் கண்டேன்
உடம்புளே உத்தமன் கோயில்கொண் டான்என்
றுடம்பினை யானிருந் தோம்புகின் றேனே. (தி10313002)

725: Why I Preserve Body :

Time was when I despised the body; But then I saw the God within And the body, I realised, is the Lord's temple And so I began preserving it With care infinite. (Dr.Natarajan)

We have in the vedas sacred chants for strengthening our faculties:

भद्रं कर्णेभिः शृणुयाम देवा
भद्रं पश्येमाक्षभिर्यजत्राः ।
स्थिरैरङ्गैस्तुष्टुवांसस्तनूभि
र्व्यशेम देवहितं यदायुः ॥
(ऋग्वेद मंडल 1, सूक्त 89, मंत्र 8)

oṃ bhadraṃ karṇebhiḥ śṛṇuyāma devāḥ।
bhadraṃ paśyemākṣabhiryajatrāḥ।
sthirairaṅgaistuṣṭuvāga~sastanūbhiḥ।
vyaśema devahitaṃ yadāyūḥ।

Aum! O gods, may we hear auspicious words with the ears; While engaged in yagnas, May we see auspicious things with the eyes; While praising the gods with steady limbs, May we enjoy a life that is beneficial to the gods.

Ps:Body is compared to a chariot in Katopanisad and the Bhagavad Gita. 

SRI KRISHNAYA THUBHYAM NAMAH