Jeevaka – one of the Legendary Ayurvedic doctor in history

The Legendary Ayurvedic doctor in history, Jeevaka was Buddha’s personal doctor. He was one of the greatest healers to walk on this earth. The legend comes alive in the pages of Ayurveda to teach some of the most valuable lessons on healing. 

Our ancestors called him the ‘Medicine King’. Jeevaka depicted exemplary skills and knowledge in the field of medicine. To understand, adapt, and honor the true essence of Ayurveda, one has to see through the mind of these legends.

So, this blog is my earnest effort to drive you through our history and bring you closer to Ayurveda. It is my way of honoring our ancestors who inspired a lot of us to find cures of all diseases in the lap of nature. 

The stories of his birth

Jeevaka, the Legendary Ayurvedic doctor in history, was born in Rajagraha during the late 5th century BC in the reign of King Bimbisara. There are several accounts, folklore, and records relating to his birth and birth parents. Some say he was a founding of a courtesan and some say he was an illegitimate child of the prince who adopted him.

But Prince Abhaya, the son of King Bimbisara found and raised him. Some say he had an innate interest in medicine from the beginning. Others say it was his desire for respect that made him choose the line of medicine. No matter what’s the real reason, Jeevika was born to be a legend!

Jeevaka went to the University of Taxila. There he gained more insight into medical sciences along with metaphysics and mathematics. He learned about the human body, and the usefulness of different natural elements and honed his skills for seven years. 

The test that proved his supremacy

At the end of the tenure, his teacher, Athreya, decided to test the students. He asked his students to examine every plant growing around Taxila and bring one single plant that has no medicinal value. 

Many students brought some plant or the other but Jeevaka returned empty-handed. When the teacher asked him about his submission, he said that he could not find any plant that had no medicinal value. 

Jeevaka quoted, ‘Not only the plants, animals, and minerals but also the winds, sunlight, fragrance, sounds and even the cloud shadows have healing powers. Some heal human beings and some heal animals. 

Athreya was very impressed as Jeevaka had understood the real essence of Ayurveda.

The healing footprints

Jeevaka was brilliant but lacked money. He could not pay fees to his Guru. Instead, the Guru handed him a petty amount to start the journey and said that he was adept at earning gold and jewels that would take him back home a thousand miles away. 

On his journey, he learned about a rich merchant’s wife who was suffering from bad migraines for seven years. Jeevaka volunteered to cure her. He boiled certain medicinal roots and leaves in ghee and administered the drug through the nose. He cured the lady that pleased her husband. They gave him 16,000 gold coins along with a coach for further travel. 

At some distance, he heard about a well-known businessman whose skull was full of worms. He operated on and cured the merchant of the fatal disease. This was one complex surgery that depicted Jeevaka’s extraordinary skills. 

He cured a distressed soul, where his feet fell. 

On the way ahead, he heard of a Shreshthi’s son who needed urgent treatment. While performing a gymnastic feat, he got his intestines entangled. This hindered his process of digestion making him pale and sick. Jeevaka performed yet another complicated surgery to put the intestines in the correct position.

By the time Jeevaka reached his home, he had become rich and famous, but he also treated and cured the poor for free. People knew him for his charity and service. His name traveled before him. King Bimbisara summoned him for treating an anal fistula. He was later appointed as the personal physician of the king. 

In all of Jeevaka’s treatment, he not only cured the symptoms but corrected the underlying disorders. He healed the body from within, restored balance, corrected doshas, and suggested ways to live in a healthy body. 

The healer of Buddha

Jeevaka soon emerged as the miraculous healer. 

He could treat the misplacement of intestines, perform complex surgeries, remove an intracranial mass, and do nose surgery. Jeevika healed “diseases of the head” with nasya.

He performed laparotomy, removed post-traumatic volvulus, and carried out cesarean section kind of surgeries. The legend could cure jaundice and prepare antidotes for poison. The Jīvaka Sūtras say he also performed acupuncture.

Jeevaka’s fame grew and the kings and noble merchants appointed him as their personal physician. He was the personal physician of the prince turned monk, Buddha.

Buddha was the healer of the mind and Jeevaka was the healer of the body.

Jeevaka treated Buddha for several ailments, colds, injuries, and intestinal problems. He grew very fond of Buddha’s teachings and often checked up on Buddha, sometimes three times a day. 

Jeevaka also donated robes for the monks and built a monastery for them to rest. Later, it became one of the oldest monasteries that existed for 7 centuries. In Buddhist texts, Buddha declared Jeevaka foremost among a layman loved by common people.

It was also Jeevaka who introduced the monks to hygiene. At his request, Buddha established that monks should sweep the compound of the monastery. He donated the robes to the monks and urged Buddha to establish the practice of exercise among the monks.

Also Read: Maharshi Mahesh’s Contribution to Ayurveda

A Legendary Ayurvedic doctor in history

Jeevaka had exceptional healing skills. He is a legendary physician and surgeon. Hailed for his selfless response to all who need his help. Awed up for his amazing observational skills. 

Jeevaka is a source of inspiration for all who aspire to be the healers of this world. Indians hail him as one of the patriarchs of traditional healing. The Thai people regard him as the creator of traditional Thai massage and medicine. Even today, he plays a central role in almost all ceremony that is part of traditional Thai medicine.

Jeevaka was, is, and will always be remembered as one of the greatest legends. And finally, I would leave you with his famous adage to ponder upon!

“Everything on earth is nothing but medicine”