A Heartful Message: Cardiology — The Centerpiece of the Annamaya Kosha. Look After It!

We need a healthy Annamaya Kosha—the physical sheath—to fulfill our obligations in life. Without a strong and able body, we cannot play the game of life well; it becomes a short or stunted innings.
The scriptures declare:
“Shareeram adyam khalu dharma sadhanam”
— The body is indeed the foremost instrument for the practice of Dharma.
Only through a healthy body can we flourish both in the outer and inner worlds.
The Sacred Role of the Body
Bhagavan Shri Krishna beautifully explains that the world itself is sustained through the great actions performed through the body:
अन्नाद्भवन्ति भूतानि पर्जन्यादन्नसम्भवः ।
यज्ञाद्भवति पर्जन्यो यज्ञः कर्मसमुद्भवः ॥ 3.14 ॥
annād bhavanti bhūtāni parjanyād anna-sambhavaḥ
yajñād bhavati parjanyo yajñaḥ karma-samudbhavaḥ
All living beings subsist on food (Annamaya Kosha), which is sustained by rains. Rains come from the performance of sacrifice (Yajña), and sacrifice arises from prescribed duties (Karma).
The body is our sacred vehicle; it must be maintained in a fit condition. It is not wise to start digging for water when there is a fire—it may be too late to invest in health once we are old and sick. Taking life too easily, without adequate activity, weakens it; but overworking without rest also leads to burnout.
The Heart — The Teacher Within
Cardiology is the centrepiece of physiology. Among all the organs, every part of the body takes rest—except the heart. If the heart rests completely, the game of life ends.
The heart works tirelessly, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, without complaint. Its selfless service fulfills two vital purposes:
1. To supply what is essential.
2. To remove what is non-essential.
Thus, the heart conveys a profound message: Life is the art of giving what is needed and letting go of what is not.
The Rhythm of Life — Systole and Diastole
We are born with two hands, two eyes, two ears, two legs, two lungs, and two kidneys — but only one heart, symbolizing unity and balance.
Each heartbeat is a two-part cycle:
• Systole — contraction (about 0.3 seconds)
• Diastole — relaxation and filling (about 0.5 seconds)

Together they form one complete cycle of 0.8 seconds, giving an average heart rate of 75 beats per minute.
During atrial systole the ventricles rest. During diastole, the entire heart rests for about 0.4 seconds, allowing it to recharge and renew itself.
The Heart’s Spiritual Message
When the heart expands (diastole), it receives — symbolizing times of growth and prosperity in life. During such times, we must relax, remain grounded, and not squander our energy in overindulgence.
When the heart contracts (systole), it gives—sending oxygenated blood to every cell. This reminds us to give our best and share our strength with others.

Perform your duty, treating alike happiness and distress, gain and loss, victory and defeat. Acting in this spirit, you will remain free from blockages.
Living the Message of the Heart
The heart teaches us that to maintain a long, healthy, and meaningful life, we must:
• Cultivate a positive attitude, so that, like the heart, we can work tirelessly in life.
• Balance activity and rest, giving and receiving.
• Before sharing enrich what we gained during expansion, so that energy flows freely.
• Avoid hoarding or withholding, which leads to blockages—both physical and spiritual.

Listen to the call of the heart and act. When we heed its wisdom, we learn how to care for our Annamaya Kosha and ensure a long, graceful innings in the game of life — without breakdown, without burnout, and with boundless joy.