1. Jívaka-Komárabhacca.-A celebrated physician. He was the son of Sálavatí, a courtesan of Rájagaha. (AA. (i.216) says that Abhayarájakumára was his father). Directly after birth the child was placed in a basket and thrown on a dust-heap, from where he was rescued by Abhayarŕjakumára. When questioned by Abhaya, people said "he was alive" (jívati), and therefore the child was called Jívaka; because he was brought up by the prince (kumárena posápito), he was called Komárabhacca. It has been suggested, however, that Komárabhacca meant master of the Kaumárabhrtya science (the treatment of infants); VT.ii.174; in Dvy. (506-18) he is called Kumárabhúta.
When grown up, he learnt of his antecedents, and going to Takkasilá without Abhaya's knowledge, studied medicine for seven years. His teacher then gave him a little money and sent him away as being fit to practise medicine. His first patient was the setthi's wife at Sáketa, and for curing her he received sixteen thousand kahápanas, a manservant, a maid-servant and a coach with horses. When he returned to Rájagaha, Abhaya established him in his own residence. There he cured Bimbisára of a troublesome fistula and received as reward all the ornaments of Bimbisára's five hundred wives. He was appointed physician to the king and the king's women and also to the fraternity of monks with the Buddha at its head. Other cures of Jívaka's included that of the setthi of Rájagaha on whom he performed the operation of trepanning, and of the son of the setthi of Benares who had suffered from chronic intestinal trouble due to misplacement, and for this case Jívaka received sixteen thousand kahápanas.
When Candappajjota, king of Ujjeni, was ill, Bimbisára lent Jívaka to him. Candappajjota hated ghee, which was, however, the only remedy. Jívaka prepared the medicine, prescribed it for the king, then rode away on the king's elephant Bhaddavatiká before the king discovered the nature of the medicine. Pajjota, in a rage, ordered his capture and sent his slave Káka after him. Káka discovered Jívaka breakfasting at Kosambí and allowed himself to be persuaded to eat half a myrobalan, which purged him violently. Jívaka explained to Káka that he wished to delay his return; he told him why he had fled from the court and, having returned the elephant, proceeded to Rájagaha. Pajjota was cured and, as a token of his favour, sent Jívaka a suit of Síveyyaka cloth, which Jívaka presented to the Buddha (Vin.i.268-81; AA.i.216). Jívaka was greatly attracted by the Buddha. Once when the Buddha was ill, Jívaka found it necessary to administer a purge, and he had fat rubbed into the Buddha's body and gave him a handful of lotuses to smell. Jívaka was away when the purgative acted, and suddenly remembered that he had omitted to ask the Buddha to bathe in warm water to complete the cure. The Buddha read his thoughts and bathed as required. Vin.i.279f; DhA. (ii.164f), relates a like occurrence in another connection. When the Buddha's foot was injured by the splinter from the rock hurled by Devadatta, he had to be carried from Maddakucchi to Jívaka's Ambavana. There Jívaka applied an astringent, and having bandaged the wound, left the city expecting to return in time to remove it. But by the time he did return, the city gates were closed and he could not enter. He was greatly worried because he knew that if the bandage remained on all night the Buddha would suffer intense pain. But the Buddha read his thoughts and removed the bandage. See also J.v.333.
After Jívaka became a Sotápanna, he was anxious to visit the Buddha twice a day, and finding Veluvana too far away, he built a monastery with all its adjuncts in his own Ambavana in Rájagaha, which he gave to the Buddha and his monks (DA.i.133; MA.ii.590). When Bimbisára died, Jívaka continued to serve Ajátasattu, and was responsible for bringing him to the Buddha after his crime of parricide. (For details see the Sámańńaphala Sutta; also J.i.508f; v.262, etc.).
Jívaka's fame as a physician brought him more work than he could cope with, but he never neglected his duties to the Sangha. Many people, afflicted with disease and unable to pay for treatment by him, joined the Order in order that they might receive that treatment. On discovering that the Order was thus being made a convenience of, he asked the Buddha to lay down a rule that men afflicted with certain diseases should be refused entry into the Order (Vin.i.71ff). Jívaka was declared by the Buddha chief among his lay followers loved by the people (aggam puggalappasannánam) (A.i.26). He is included in a list of good men who have been assured of the realisation of deathlessness (A.iii.451; DhA.i.244, 247; J.i.116f).
At a meal once given by Jívaka, the Buddha refused to be served until Cúlapanthaka, who had been left out of the invitation, had been sent for. (For details see Cúlapanthaka). It may have been the preaching of the Jívaka Sutta which effected Jívaka's conversion. One discussion he had with the Buddha regarding the qualities of a pious lay disciple is recorded in the Anguttara Nikáya (A.iv.222f). Sirimá was Jívaka's youngest sister (SNA.i.244; DhA.iii.106).
At Jívaka's request, the Buddha enjoined upon monks to take exercise; Jívaka had gone to Vesáli on business and had noticed their pale, unhealthy took (Vin.ii.119).
2. Jívaka.-Given as an example of a name. J.i.402.
3. Jívaka.-A monk of the Mahávihára, at whose request Buddhaghosa wrote the Manorathapúraní. AA.i.874.