Abstract
Dr. Jivako was not only the physician in ordinary of king Bimbisara. He also was the personal physician of Buddha and physician of the Buddhist community of monks (Sangha).
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Dr. Jivaka was one of the first followers of Buddha. He was not only the physician in ordinary (Komarabhacca) of king Bimbisara but also of Buddha himself, treating the Buddhist monks of the Sangha in Rajagaha as well.
Because Buddha and his monks had to stop their nomadic life for several months during the rain season, they needed some accommodation for that period. In the empire of king Bimbisara there were 18 of those shelters called Sangha alone. Buddha himself liked to use the Sangha Ambavana in the capital city Rajagaha, provided for him by Dr. Jivaka. Here Buddha welcomed pilgrims and monks, talked to people looking for advice as well as to rivalling monks.[1]
Many people are said to have joined Buddha only because of the free medical care that Dr. Jivaka provided for the monks. Even their numbers turned into a problem for the Sangha.[2]
Dr. Jivaka is also mentioned several times in the Pali Canon, the oldest and most important collection of texts of Buddhism, which have been written down on palm leafs in the first century B.C.[3]
In the Pali Canon Dr. Jivaka is considered the "father of medicine".[4] It is also reported that king Bimbisara did send Dr. Jivaka to Waranasi, to cure the son of the treasurer.[5] Dr. Jivaka was also ordered by king Bimbisara to heal Candappajjota, the king of Ujjeni.[6] So Dr. Jivaka was not the physician in ordinary (Komarabhacca) of only one famous king but in fact treated many high ranking persons of his age.
One of the stories of the Pali Canon describes how king Ajatasattu, son of king Bimbisara, one day asked the people at his court which wise man, monk or priest he should grant an audience to inspire and rejoice himself. Everybody proposed somebody, only Dr. Jivaka kept silent. When Ajatasattu asked him why, Dr. Jivaka told him that currently Buddha with his 1350 monks was living in his mango garden. So the king decided to visit Buddha in Dr. Jivakas garden.[7] By this, Dr. Jivaka helped Buddha to gain much more attention for his teachings at the royal court.
© 2006 Thailin Thai Massage Berlin- Cf. Stürner (2001), p. 27; Theelen / Wetzler (2003), p. 13;
- Cf. Zysk (1998), p. 43
- Cf. Stürner (2001), p. 26
- Cf. Theelen / Wetzler (2003), p. 13
- Cf. http://www.palikanon.com/english/pali_names/b/baranasi.htm
- Cf. http://www.palikanon.com/english/pali_names/b/bimbisara.htm
- Cf. Stürner (2001), p. 27f
Bibliography
http://www.palikanon.com
Stürner, E. (2001): Nuad. Die traditionelle Thai Massage. München 2001.
Theelen R. / Wetzler N. (2003): Traditionelle Thai Massage. Kreuzlingen / München 2003.
Zysk, K. G. (1998): Asceticism and healing in Ancient India. Medicine in the Buddhist Monastery. Indian Medical Tradition Vol. 2. 2. Ed. Delhi 1998.
