Who is Dr Shivago ?

Jīvaka, also known as Dr. Shivago, gained great fame as a surgeon who successfully performed operations such as craniotomy (surgical incision into the skull) and laparotomy (surgical incision into the abdominal wall). He was reputed to cure jaundice, fistulas, and many other illnesses. His renown as a healer and child specialist was widely acknowledged, and stories of his life and medical feats are found in nearly all versions of the Buddhist scriptures.

The life of Dr. Shivago is preserved in four textual traditions: Pali, Sanskrit, Chinese, and Tibetan.

A Life That Began in Abandonment

Jīvaka was born in Rājagṛha (today’s Rajgir, a small town near Bodhgaya, the place of the Buddha’s awakening, where Buddhist pilgrimages are still organized).

His mother was a courtesan who had him cast away among refuse by a slave. One day, as Prince Abhaya, son of King Bimbisāra, was walking through the city, he noticed a flock of crows circling noisily above. Curious, he stopped and investigated, finding the newborn amidst the rubbish.

He named the baby Jīvaka, meaning “the one who is alive”, and Komārabhacca, “adopted by a prince”. From then on, he became known simply as Jīvaka.

A Bodhisattva Aspiration

Though he grew up as a prince in the palace, Jīvaka was often teased by his friends for having no mother. After questioning his adoptive father about his origins, he resolved that one day he would dedicate his life to saving others. Without a true family or inheritance, he saw that physicians were held in great respect for their dedication to preserving life. Inspired, he renounced the throne to study the treatises of Ayurvedic medicine.

He trained for seven years at Takṣaśilā under the sage Ātreya Punarvasu, who according to Tibetan texts had also been the physician of King Bimbisāra’s father. Ātreya helped Jīvaka sharpen his extraordinary powers of observation, which soon caused envy among his fellow students.

Exceptionally gifted, he completed his studies in only seven years—normally requiring eleven.

According to Tibetan and Sanskrit sources, he underwent the “forest test”, a crucial examination. His teacher instructed him to bring back plants, herbs, or roots that could not be used medicinally. After a long search, Jīvaka returned, declaring that none existed—every treasure of nature could serve life. Pleased, Ātreya declared that Jīvaka’s education was complete, for he had surpassed even his master’s understanding.

Unshakable Faith in Buddhism

Alongside his medical knowledge, Jīvaka possessed an unwavering faith in Buddhism.

Nicknamed the “King of Medicine”, early Chinese Buddhist texts described him with terms similar to those reserved for Buddhas and Bodhisattvas.

The Buddha himself declared that Jīvaka was foremost among lay disciples loved by the people, and the Pali texts cite him as an example of unwavering faith in the Dharma. His whole life was devoted to helping sentient beings, in line with the Bodhisattva path.

Physician of the Buddha and the Monks

While the Buddha was the healer of humanity, Jīvaka became the healer of the Buddha’s body. He cared for the Buddha himself as well as the community of monks (bhikkhus).

He brought positive changes to monastic life, even while remaining a lay disciple.

• The Jīvaka Sutta recounts his question about why the Buddha accepted meat, which seemed to conflict with non-violence. The Buddha explained: if an animal was not killed specifically for him or the monks, then eating that meat did not create karmic harm.

• At that time, monks wore rags from corpses as a sign of renunciation, which caused many illnesses. It was through Jīvaka’s influence that freshly sewn robes were accepted, reducing disease.

• He also encouraged the Buddha to introduce exercise for the monks, to prevent metabolic illnesses caused by poor diet and lack of activity.

Physician and Surgeon

Jīvaka was not only a physician but also a pioneering surgeon.

Some of his attributed surgical procedures include:

• Surgery of a fistula-in-ano on King Bimbisāra, which made him famous.

• Craniotomy (Susabadho) to remove parasites or clots, performed on a merchant with chronic migraines.

• Laparotomy for volvulus: untangling twisted intestines and suturing them into position; similar descriptions exist for strangulated hernia.

• Removal of a foreign body from the Buddha’s foot—a shard of rock thrown by Devadatta.

• Surgery for hydrocele, opening the testicular sac to remove a hard mass (bija).

The Buddha, though wise and compassionate, also faced the realities of illness, wounds, constipation, diarrhea, and aging. Jīvaka treated him successfully throughout his life, almost until the Buddha’s passing, which occurred from food poisoning in Jīvaka’s absence.

A Highly Realized Being

According to the Pali texts, at the end of his life Jīvaka attained the stage of Sotāpanna (“stream-enterer”), the first level of awakening.

In Sanskrit traditions, he is revered as the ninth of the Sixteen Arhats, guardians of the Dharma until the coming of the next Buddha. Legend even says he still dwells on Mount Gandhamadana, between India and Sri Lanka.

Enduring Legacy

Over centuries, the name Jīvaka became synonymous with a miracle physician.

Therapies unknown in India at the time, such as acupuncture, were later attributed to him. His teachings traveled to Thailand with Buddhism (2nd–3rd century BCE). Thai massage therapists honor him as the father of Thai traditional medicine, calling him Dr. Shivago and respecting his methods to this day.

Chinese tradition regards him as the greatest of all ancient physicians.

The Mantra of Dr. Shivago

In Theravāda Buddhism, as in Mahāyāna and Vajrayāna, mantras are part of spiritual practice.

Before beginning a treatment session, Thai traditional medicine practitioners and Ruesi Dat Ton yogis honor Dr. Shivago by reciting his mantra.

Here is the mantra in Pali:

Om Namo Shivago    Silasa    Ahang    Karuniko    Sapasatanang    Osatha     Tipa Mantang     Papaso     Suriya Jantang     Gomalapato     Paka-Sesi     Wantami      Bantito      Sumethasso      Arokha      Sumana-Homi

(répéter 3 fois)

Piyo-Tewa     Manussanang     Piyo-Proma     Namuttamo     Piyo Nakha     Supananang      Pininsiang     Nama-Mihang      Namo Puttay     Navon-Navien     Nasatit-Nasatien     Ehi-Mama      Navien-Nawe      Napai-Tang-Vien     Navien-Mahaku      Ehi-Mama      Piyong-Mama      NamoPuttaya

(1 fois)

Na-A      Na-Wa      Lokha     Payati      Vina-Shanti

(répéter 3 fois)

Proposed Translation of the Mantra

“Homage to Dr. Shivago, symbol of dignity and perfection in awakening.
We invite his energy to touch us through his pure vision. May this connection bring us knowledge of all the elements of nature, so that this aspiration reveals the true medicine of the universe.
Through this mantra, we honor the light of knowledge, like the light of the sun and the moon, aspiring that this energy generate wholeness and restore health to all beings.
The goddess of healing dwells in the heavens while humanity remains below. Through this universal energy, may heaven reflect upon earth, so that the whole world may be healed.
We honor you, we honor the Buddha, and we aspire that this healing medicine envelops the world.
May those we touch be happy, in peace, and free from all illness.”

This mantra is still recited mentally by practitioners before every Nuad Bo’Rarn massage and by Ruesi Dat Ton yogis before practice. Both traditions directly descend from Thai Buddhist traditional medicine, and therefore from Dr. Shivago.