India is famed for Ayurveda, surgery, holistic healing techniques and techniques for balancing of body, mind and soul. Among the legendary physicians and surgeons of ancient India, Jeevaka stands out as a bright star. He is famed for his operating and healing techniques and knowledge of herbal medicine. From the rank of poor son of courtesan, he rose to the rank of the personal physician of King Bimbisara. He treated Buddha and became his disciple. In honor and respect of his Master, he donated a grama or resting place for Buddhist monks. This grama was called Jeevakarama and existed for centuries after his death.
The story of Jeevaka is a stunning story of hard work, discipline and perfectionism. He was the son of a courtesan Saalavati of Rajagaha and rescued from a dung-heap and brought up by Abhayaraja Kumara. Jeevaka had a special liking for the subject of medicine as he had selected this course of study on his own and proceeded to the University of Takshashila for his studies and training. He studied medicine and surgery for seven years and gave his test of proficiency.
Jeevaka’s Guru was the famous teacher Aatreya. The Guru gave the following tasks as test to all of his students: Go around the heavily forested area of Sarlaka hills near the Medical School vicinity and collect plants, animal products and minerals which have no medicinal value. You have a week’s time to complete the task and present the findings for the Guru’s inspection. The students equipped themselves with tools for cutting, peeling, de-barking, cleaning etc and moved into the forests around the Medical School for completion of the task given.
After a week, the students came back. Some carried a few herbs and roots, others carried baskets of herbs, plants, flowers, minerals etc which they found to have no medicinal value. Every single student had something or the other to present for his examination. Only Jeevaka came in empty handed. They all began to wonder and question Jeevaka if he had dropped out of the exam. Guru Aatreya asked Jeevaka: You have not brought in anything. Have you decided not to take the examination or you did not find anything of medicinal value?
Jeevaka replied: O Respected Teacher, I have taken the examination. I went around the hills and forests in Sarlaka and searched as per your instruction. During the long years of my practice and training here with you, I have already conducted similar searches. Before and now too, my findings are same: Everything in Nature is filled with medicinal power. All plants, animals, minerals, the wind, water, earth, sunlight, the song of the birds, the perfume of the flowers, the gurgle of the river, the shadow of the cloud – everything heals some sickness or the other. Some of these heal humans, some of them heal animals. Some of these heal physical sicknesses and others cure mental sicknesses. I have understood that Nature is Almighty and All-powerful in Her Healing and provides us with everything that we need for living a healthy life and overcoming sicknesses. So please evaluate my work on my findings.
Jeevaka passed his examination with flying colors. On his way back to his home town, he healed a rich merchant's wife from bad migraine by boiling certain medicinal roots and leaves in ghee and administered the drug through the nose. Later he operated on another business man's skull for worms and cured him. A ruler was cured of fistula on way to Benaras. While performing a gymnastic feat, a man got his intestines entangled and could not digest food or ease himself in the normal way. Jeevaka performed a very difficult and complicated surgery and rectified the condition, put the intestines in correct position and stitched the skin, anointing the area with soothing salve later. He became the court-physician to King Bimbisara. Devadatta, the half brother of Buddha hurled a rock at Buddha. The rock fell near Buddha and did not kill him. But a splinter caused injury to Buddha’s foot and cause him pain. This was surgically cured by Jeevaka who removed a big blood clot from that spot successfully.
Great men like Jeevaka teach us that we can be successful in any field of life provided we work hard and love what we do. The life of Jeevaka also teaches us these truths : there is no root or herb without medicinal power and no person without good qualities and no syllable without mantric power. Let us draw inspiration from the life of this great man and put in disciplined effort in our sadhana, SitaRam mantra, meditation and following the teachings of the Guru.
