Although Aswini Kumar(s), who are the twin brothers were initial vedic
doctors, Jeevak Kaumarbhritya (525-450 B.C), contemporary of Gautama
Buddha, can be considered as historical ‘Father of Medicine’.He was
famous during his period and treated many monks and kings like Buddha,
King Bimbisara, King Chand Pradyot.Entire Tripitak literature in Pali
language describes about ‘medical miracles‘ of Jeevak.
He was
found as an abandoned orphan at a roadside in Rajgrih(Rajgir) to prince
of Magadh.The prince(Kaumar/Kumar) found him Jeevit (alive) even after
being abandoned and has served(Bhritya) him.Thus, his name became Jeevak
Kaumarbhritya. He went to Takshila (which is now in Pakistan) for his
higher studies a place which could be called as the “first university of
the world” and was famous for its specialized study.He studied the
whole 8-limbed Ayurveda (Medical science of 8 subjects) there for many
years.Ultimately he became a great maser and research scholar of this
subject. His intelligence and skill are known through different case
studies in his life.
Case 1 – “Every plant is a medicine” :-
When his studies were done, the mentor of Jeevak examined him by giving a
project. The task was to find a useless plant in the 5 miles
circumference of Takshila. Jeevak wandered everywhere and reported in
conclusion that “Every plant has medicinal and other uses, no plant is
useless.” The teacher was extremely delighted to listen his answer.
Case 2 – “Treating a chronic headache through medicinal ghee” :- When
Jeevak was returning to Magadh from Takshila, on the way he stayed at
Saket(Ayodhya). The wife of a famous businessman (Shresthi) was
suffering from chronic headache which was not cured by other doctors
(Vaidyas). When he inserted medical ghee through her nose. She got
relief within 3 days. The shresthi awarded him with 26,000 coins,
chariots and servants. This was the first treatment in Jeevak’s career.
Case 3 – “Treating fistula of Magadh emperor Bimbasar” :- Bimbasar was
suffering from fistula. Due to disease, his clothes get stained with
blood. Which was witted by his queen. He became extremely sorrowful due
to the pain of disease and the other reason was the humour of the
queens. This mentally and physically sick king was treated by only one
paste of Jeevak. The happy king awarded him with enormous property and
appointed him on the post of Royal Doctor (Raj vaidya)
Case 4 –
“ Head Surgery of a Shresthi” :- A shresthi of Rajgrih has a chronic
disease uncured by the Vaidyas. They speculated that shresthi would live
five to seven days. Bimbasar appointed Jeevak on this case. Jeevak tied
the patient to the left side for 7 days, on right side for 7 days and
central mode for 7 days, then he pierced his skulll and brought out two
insects. Then he closed the brain, stitched it and did the bandage. The
shresthi according to his promise offered him his whole property but
Jeevak took only one lakh coins.
Case 5 – “Intestinal Surgery
of a boy” :- The son of a shresthi of Varanasi had tumor in his
intestine. He did not recovered even after many treatments. When Jeevak
came to see him, he moved his surgical tool on his stomach & brought
out intestine. Then he cut off the tumor and stitched the intestine at
it’s position. The boy recovered from disease.
Case 6 –
“Treating the disease of Avanti king Chand Pradyot” :- King Chand
Pradyot invited Jeevak from Rajgrih to Ujjain for his treatment. The
king was furious in nature and Jeevak knew that fact. That’s why before
giving the king medicine, he fled with Bhadravati elephantess with the
excuse of bringing medicine for the king from the forest. As soon as the
king took the medicine, seviere vomiting started. This made him very
angry and thus he ordered to bring the Jeevak before him. But Jeevak
using his tactical brain, reaches Rajgrih safely. After some time, Chand
Pradyot recovered completely and rewarded Jeevak by sending a very
costly pair of Sivayak garments to Rajgrih.
Jeevak had a big
residence, which was also his Hospital in Rajgrih, whose ruins still
exist in Rajgir as “Jeevak ambvan”, which literally means the mango
orchard. The building was surrounded by the mango orchard where lord
Buddha stayed with his disciples. Jeevak had introduced Ajatshatru to
Gautama Buddha. Jeevak had even treated the lord Buddha once with his
simple medicines.Unlike, Hippocrates of Greece, Jeevak’s legacy did not
find ‘school of medicine’ and popularize his methods.That is why Jeevak
Kaumarbhritya, who lived more than a century before Hippocrites (460-370
BC), was neglected by the world.But infact, he is the ‘Real Father of
Medicine
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