Jivaka Kumarbaccha was an Indian physician – an Ayurvedic Vaidya. As king Bimbisara’s personal physician he became a contemporary of Gautama Buddha. The king allowed Jivaka to follow the Buddha and he became the personal physician of the Buddha on his travels. Jivaka and his disciples wore white robes, not the saffron robes of monks. It is said that Jivaka could not wear the saffron orange robes that Buddhist monks wear in Thailand because a Buddhist monk cannot touch females. The father of Thai yoga massage could not discriminate between the sexes for the purpose of healing! Besides, he already had the white robe and was quite comfortable with its flowiness.
Jivaka Kumarbaccha
The teachings of this Indian physician eventually reached Thailand where the people developed a great tradition, preserving this wonderful preventive medicine. Thai yoga massage has its roots in Vedic philosophy, yoga and ultimately, Ayurveda; but the Thai people have undoubtedly adapted the technique to keep pace with an ever changing world. Thai yoga massage practitioners in Bangkok, in Montreal and the world over repeat a mantra at the start and end of each day to invoke the healing spirit of the “Father doctor,” Jivaka.
The following is a Pali prayer that is recited at the start of each day throughout Thailand by the many thousands of Thai massage therapists and masters. Since I also learned Thai massage in Thailand I recite this prayer at the start of and end of each massage day. The man below is Shivago Kummarbaccha, the father of Thai medicine. He was an Ayurvedic physician, was the personal physician of King Bimbisara and a contemporary of Gautama Buddha. His teachings reached Thailand and laid the groundwork for what is now Thai Yoga Massage.
OM NAMO SHIVAGO SIRASA AHANG KARUNIKO
SAPASATANANG OSATA TIPAMANTANG
PAPASO SURIYA-JANTANG KOMARAPATO PAGASESI WANTAMI BANDITO SUMETASO A-LOKA SUMANAHOMI
PIYO-TEWA MANUSANANG PIYO-PROMA NAMUTAMO
PIYO-NAKA SUPANANANG PINISRIYONG NAMAMIHANG NAMOPUTAYA
NAVON-NAVEAN NASATIT-NASATEAN
A-HIMAMA NAVEAN-NAVE NAPITANG-VEAN NAVEAN-MAHAKO
A-HIMAMA PIYONGMAMA NAMOPUTAYA
NA-A NAVA LOKA PAYATI WINASANTI
English translation:
We invite the spirit of our founder,
the Father Doctor “Shivago,” who taught us through his saintly life.
Please bring to us the knowledge of nature,
and show us the true medicine in the universe.
Through this prayer, we request your help, that through our hands,
you will bring wholeness and health to the body of our client.
The god of healing dwells in the heavens high
while mankind remains in the world below.
In the name of the founder, may the heavens be reflected in the earth,
so that this healing medicine may encircle the world.
We pray for the one whom we touch, that he will be happy and all pain will be released from them.
