Venerable Doctor Jivaka Komarabhacca

In the beginning of the Lord Buddha’s period. Buddhism was widely prevalent in Rajagaha City. The monks who were living there had to take care of themselves when they were sick. They sometimes got some medicines from their relatives or from the people who expressed willing to provide the medicines for the monks in advance. There were no conveniences at all for the monks in those days.


When Ven. Dr. Jivaka Komarabhacca had graduated from Taxila, he surrendered himself to be a public doctor and he provided the medical services for the Lord Buddha, the sick monks. All the medical – conveniences and more comfortable treatment were provided by Jivaka Komarabhacca.


Ven. Dr. Jivaka Kormarabhacca satisfied the King Bimbisara so that he was appointed by the king to be a doctor for Royal family. He also gave the treatment to king’s internal subordinates.


Apart from this, Ven. Dr. gave the neuro-surgery for brain symptoms to the millionaire of Rajagaha City and the abdominal operation for Varanasi millionaire’s son. This indicated that the medical treatment which Jivaka Komarabhacca used in those days, was very advanced like the present treatment has been.


Apart from the medical treatment, Ven. Dr. Jivaka Komarabhacca had also played a key role in improving the monk’s living standard e.g. he approached the Lord Buddha and informed the Lord Buddha to give an allowance of walking up and down-seat and fire-house to the monks. And previously the monks faced the difficulties in searching for the clothes, he requested the Lord Buddha to give an allowance of the clothes. That is to say, the monks could directly receive the clothes provided by the house-holders. As a result of this, the monks lived a more comfortable life up to the present.


Ven. Dr. Jivaka Komarabhacca also felt care about the social condemnation of meat-eating of the monks. He asked for suggestion from the Lord Buddha on how to do about meat-eating. The Lord Buddha laid down the regulation for this case that the monks were allowed to eat the meat sold publicly in the market, but not to eat the meat prepared specifically for them.


The individual conduct and role of Ven. Dr. Jivaka Komarabhacca pertaining to giving many services to Buddhism e.g. medical service, clothes service etc. became the good direction which the monks and lay disciples in later generation has followed up to the present.Ven. Dr. was not only the greatest doctor in the Buddhist era but also a good man who had the oblinging, requitaliting for the done favours, mindful equipped with wisdom and energy. He had the responsibility to all his patients and the society.


Katha Jivaka Komarabhacca
Namo Tassa Bhagavato Arahato Sammasambudhassa (x3)
Om  Namo  Shivago  Sirasa  Ahang  Karuniko  Sapasatanang  Osatha  Tipa-Mantang  Papaso  Suriya-Jantang. Gomalapato  Paka-Sesi  Wantami  Bantito  Sumethasso  Arokha  Sumana-Homi. (3 times)
Piyo-Theva  Manussanang  Piyo-Bhrama  Namuttamo  Piyo  Nakha  Supanayang  Prijinsrinang  Nama-Mihang  Namo Budh Dha Ya  Navon-Navien  Nasatit-Nasatien  Ehi-Mama  Navien-Nawe  Napi-Tang-Vien  Navien-Mahako  Ehi-Mama  Piyang-Mama  Namo Budh Dha Ya (1 time)
Na-A  Na-Wa  Lokha  Payati  Vina-Shanti. (3 times)


Translation of this Pali prayer:
“We invite the spirit of our Founder, the Father Doctor Shivago, who comes to us though his saintly life. Please bring to us the knowledge of all nature, that this prayer will show us the true medicine of the universe. In the name of this mantra, we respect your help and pray that through our bodies you will bring wholeness and health to the body of our client.
The Goddess of healing dwells in the heavens high, while mankind stays in the world below. In the name of the Founder, may the heavens be reflected in the earth below so that this healing medicine may encircle the world.
We pray for the one whom we touch, that he will be happy and that any illness will be released from him.”