Ayurveda
: Ancient Heritage in the Age of Globalisation
161
Devadutta (the infamous cousin) hurt Buddha’s foot.
Jivaka put an astringent and also bandaged the wound.
Jivaka’s success has been referred to frequently in the Pali
literature and a telepathic relation between him and
Buddha is established in such texts.
30
The mass application of Ayurveda in health
treatment was the main reason when Jivaka built up his
own abode, Jivakarama, in Rajgrha which was next to the
monastic complex of Sangha and offered it for the service
of monks especially during the Lent season
31
. His
popularity is evidenced when he enters into a dialogue
with Buddha which shaped one of the monastic rules
which forbade people with certain disease to enter the
Order. With the introduction of better Ayurvedic health
28
A detailed biography of Jivaka is provided in theMahavagga section
of the Vinaya Pitaka. Prince Abhaya, the grandson of Magadha
Emperor Bimbisara, found him as abandoned newly born child. He
was later on believed to be his own son through a courtesan. He
excelled as a great medicine man after a stint in Taksila and rose to
become a highly successful Ayurvedic vaidya and surgeon.
29
Vin
.i.279f; DhA. ii.164f
30
While treating Buddha, Jivaka is often mentioned in the Pali canon
as
a man in rush
who would forget to instruct the patient the next
step of his therapy. At all such occasions, Buddha is shown as
reading Jivaka’s mind and his plan of next action. He would follow
the next step of treatment in Jivaka’s absence to recover fully. This
was not only to establish a telepathic link between the two but to
also qualify Buddha as Bhaisajya Guru, the Teacher of All
Physicians(J.v.333.).
