Health-Care Principle of Navaharaguna by Somdej Phra Ariyavaṁsañāṇa Somdej Phra Saṁgharāja (Suk ñāṇasaṁvaro)

Abstract

This research has three objectives: 1) to study the principle of Navaharaguna by Somdej Phra Ariyavaṁsañāṇa Somdej Phra Saṁgharāja (Suk ñāṇasaṁvaro), 2) to compare the sicknesses that had been recorded as treated by Navaharaguna with current sicknesses, and 3) to comment on the ancient words that had been recorded in Navaharaguna with the present understanding. This research is a qualitative research based on documents together with an in-depth interview. It was found that Navaharaguna was mainly used as a method for treating oneself. Somdej Phra Ariyavaṁsañāṇa Somdej Phra Saṁgharāja (Suk ñāṇasaṁvaro) used Navaharaguna by praying the nine keywords of “A, Sam, Vi, Su, Lo, Pu, Sa, Bu, Bha,” which is the Buddhist way of providing health-care treatments together with the knowledge of the Dhātu (Element) in Tipitaka and traditional medicine, especially with Thai traditional massage. There are 82 methods of Navaharaguna to treat various symptoms, which can be divided into four groups, namely, to balance the body elements, to treat physical sicknesses, to treat mental disorders, and other. There are 14 symptoms treated by Navaharaguna that are still found in the present day.