The Bhagavata Purana highlights the glories of Bharata Varsha as a karma bhoomi, while describing many peripheral regions and their inhabitants. In a discourse, Dr. Sudha Seshaiyan drew attention to the fact that these other regions are symbolic of swarga or naraka, where one can merely expend the fruits of his actions, good or bad. But anyone born in Bharata Varsha gets a chance to acquire new merits through the performance of karma and get liberated eventually. That is why even the celestial beings long to be born in Bharata Varsha to either perform penance or expiate for their wrongs.
A jivatma’s life on earth is thus precious as one can work towards spiritual attainment, the highest Purushartha. The Isavasya emphasises the unity of God and the world. All things that move and change derive their significance from their relation to the eternal truth. It exhorts the jivatma to view the things of the world as belonging to God. It teaches us how to renounce or give up the sense of attachment to the world and enjoy life on earth.
Andal teaches this same philosophy in simple terms when she describes the disciplined way of life the Gopis adopt during the Paavai Nombu undertaken to seek Krishna. They show that the essence of renunciation is denial of the attractions of the world. Ayarpadi overflows with milk and ghee, but the Gopis do not partake of them. They gladly offer it to Krishna, the very Supreme Being incarnate. They would get up early and sing His praise. They would not lead a life of ostentation and would avoid personal adornments. They would follow the dictates of sastras. They would refrain from using harsh words, and be generous in thought, word and deed as far as possible.
