I chose to focus on the physician Jivaka Komarabhacca, who treated even the Lord Buddha, for this novel because it's crucial to adapt the fundamental principles of Ayurvedic medicine that he exemplified to the present day. Furthermore, Jīvaka's contributions lend a sense of sacredness to the Ayurvedic system. I believe Jīvaka serves as a vital link connecting various eras of Ayurveda, which has a rich and extensive history.

Jīvaka's legacy endures to this day as a remarkable figure in medicine. Treatment methods unknown to Indians at his time, such as acupuncture, are now attributed to this exceptional physician. Massage therapists in Thailand regard Jīvaka as the founder of Thai massage, while the Chinese consider him the greatest of all ancient physicians. According to Sanskrit and Tibetan accounts, Jīvaka was honored by the royal court three times for his medical miracles, earning him the title of "Physician King."

In Jivaka's life, we see both a talented physician and a devoted Buddhist layperson. It is undeniable that the spiritual power hidden within the physician is that of the devotee. Providing treatments to the Blessed One is only one aspect of his life. Being a close devotee of the Blessed One and capable of recommending appropriate health practices for the Sangha is another. Above all, his pursuit of the Arya path for the cessation of his own suffering from the cycle of birth is his most admirable quality.

Ajantha Seneviratne