Question

Jeevaka was a well-known vaidya, at the court of which king?
 (A) King Bimbisara
 (B) King Vikram
 (C) King Maurya
 (D) All of these

Answer 1

Hint: Vaidya is the Sanskrit word for physicians. Jeevaka was a famous physician who lived in Rajagriha, present day Rajgir. He was also the personal physician of Buddha. He was known as “Medicine King” as he was one of the best physicians present at that time.

Complete step-by-step answer: Jeevika was a famous physician of Magadha who was the personal physician of Buddha and king Bimbisar of Magadha. He followed Buddhism and information about him has been found in early Buddhist texts as well as later Buddhist disclosures and texts. He had learned traditional medicine from Tasasila after which he started the healing profession in Rajgarh. Due to his great medical knowledge and skills, he was appointed as the personal physician of Buddha and king Bimbisar. He was an important supporter of Buddhism and founded the Jivakarama monastery. Throughout the Asian Buddhist community, he is seen as a model Physician and Buddhist saint. Jeevaka has been described as Thrice crowned physician in some of the earlier texts.

Additional information IN the Buddhist texts Jeevaka is described as a disciple of Buddha who was raised in the court of Magadha by prince Abhya. It was also considered that Jeevaka was the illegitimate son of King Bimbisar and a merchant woman. In a few Sanskrit texts, Jeevaka was considered as one of the sixteen Arhats, disciples who protect Buddha's teaching until the next Buddha arises.

So the correct answer is (A) King Bimbisara. Jeevaka was a well-known vaidya, at the court of king Bimbisar.

Note:
 Xuan Zang, a Chinese traveler, identified the Jivikarama monastery which is considered as one of the earliest Buddhist monasteries to exits that have archeological remains.