[Advaita-l] sharira a must for Brahma Jnana

[Sumitha Ramachandran]

Namaste.
              In Vivekachoodamani we have the verse Janthoonaam narajanma dhurlabham........
wherein the importance of  a Narajanma is stressed.
 
Does one require a sharira (body)  for Brahma Jnana?
We have heard that King Janaka got jnana from formless yogis . If one can be helpful in giving jnana in a formless state, can one take them too while formless? Or is it that one has to take a human form and do shravana , manana and nidhidhyasana to obtain Jnana?
What do the scriptures have to say about this?
 
Thanking in advance,
humbly,
sumitha