158
Ayurveda
: Ancient Heritage in the Age of Globalisation
quantity
19
. This view is further
augmented
by the
never-
have-been-to-India
Greek writer Strabo when his
quotation that the
Pramai
(Buddhists) were opposed to
the Brachmanes (brahmana) studying physiology
20
is
understood to be the nothing less than an established
truth
21
. There has been a clear
game plan
among certain
set of scholars who brand Ayurveda things as Hindu,
hence Buddha and Buddhism are kept weaned away from
this. And, this assertion continues abated with great
neglect to what Buddhism ascribes itself to the basic
concepts of Ayurveda not only in Tripitaka but also in its
commenataries (atthakatha). Mere no reference of Jivaka,
the personal Ayurveda vaidya of Lord Buddha and His
Sangha, in any Ayurveda related treatise does not mean
that Ayurveda was not a welcome subject in Buddhism.
This non-appearance is simply due to the fact that there
was no innovation and literary contribution to the genre
of Ayurveda by Jivaka.
17
Majjhima Nikaya
1.28.2;
Saundarananda
9.6;
Nigrodha Jataka
12.1.146
18
Sutta Nipata
4.14.13;
Śatadhamma Jataka
179.2.82
19
Majjhima Nikaya
3.24.2
20
McCrindle 1901:76
21
Strabo
(“squinty”) was a term employed by the Romans for anyone
whose eyes were distorted or deformed. A native of Sicily so clear-
sighted that he could see things at great distance as if they were
nearby was also called “Strabo.” Going by this Sicilian meaning,
Strabo might have been able to see things happening in India from
his place of dwelling!
