Book Title: Studies in Buddhist and Jaina Monachism
Author(s): Nand Kishor Prasad
Publisher: Research Institute of Prakrit Jainology & Ahimsa Mujjaffarpur
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NISSAYAS
147
to in the text, but their remedies are not mentioned as in the cases already stated.?
We have seen that surgical operation without any restriction was permissible to the Order. But later on due to an ugly instance of Ākasagotta, a physician, the use of lancet and clyster within a distance of two inches round the private parts of the body was disallowed.
W Other details regarding medicaments, though not elaborate, were yet sufficient to put a monk on the right path so far as their acquisition, storing, use, etc. were concerned. Some of these rules have already been stated in connection with the appraisal of the rules pertaining to food as it was thought appropriate there..
Before we conclude, it would not be out of place to state that Jivakakomārabhacca, the renowned physician of the time, had been requested by Bimbisára, the king of Magadha to wait upon the Order. Another physician who is referred to have waited upon the Order wa's Akasagotta who has already been mentioned. These two instances together and people's remark on Jivaka's refusal to treat them of their diseases are sufficient to assert that the Order practically used all kinds of medicines and medical appliances, known at the time.
On the other hand, the Jaina sources are not unanimous as regards the use of medicinal as well as surgical treatment by the Jaina monks. The Acara ngasütras informs that Mahavira himself did not use medicine when he was ill, while the Bhagavatīsutra? informs that he took majjarakada and kukkud amamsa (according to the commentator these were the preparations from some vegetables) as cure against bilious fever (pitta jara). Whatever might have been the reason for this apparent contradiction, other evidences like the practice of taking some medicine or undergoing some medicinal treatment only with the permission of the teacher, 8 taking into consideration the medical facilities when searching out a lodge for the rain retreat, etc. are enough
1. MV, 1. 31. 88, p. 76. 2. Ibid, 6. 5. 20, p. 233. 3. Vide Supra, pp. 111-18. 4. MV, 8.3. 6, pp. 290F. 5. Ibid, 1. 31. 89, pp. 76. 6. Ayar (SBE. Vol. XXII), 1. 8. 4. 1 (p. 86). 7. Op. cit. 557, pp. 1259a-1263 a. 8. Kapp (SBE. Vol. XXII), pp. 306.307. 9. Dasās, 8.21, p. 56a.
