Jivaka, the famous royal physician of Rajagriha (Rajgrih) in ancient Magadha, was traditionally regarded as the son of which renowned courtesan (ganika)?

Introduction / Context:
Jivaka was a celebrated physician in ancient India, known especially from Buddhist literature. He served at the court of Magadha and treated kings as well as the Buddha himself. Stories about his birth and early life emphasise that he was the son of a courtesan, highlighting themes of social mobility and personal merit. This question asks you to recall the name of that courtesan, or ganika, from whom Jivaka was born.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The character in focus is Jivaka, a royal physician associated with Rajagriha (Rajgrih).
• The question specifies that he was the son of a courtesan.
• The options are Salavati, Ramaniya, Vasantasena, and Amrapali.
• We assume familiarity with names of women mentioned in early Indian and Buddhist narratives.

Concept / Approach:
According to traditional Buddhist accounts, Jivaka was the son of a courtesan named Salavati. He was abandoned shortly after birth but was rescued and raised by others, eventually becoming a highly skilled physician. Amrapali (or Ambapali) was a famously beautiful courtesan of Vaishali, not Rajagriha, and is connected with different stories involving the Buddha. Vasantasena appears in the Sanskrit play “Mrichchhakatika” as a courtesan character. Ramaniya is not the standard name associated with Jivaka's mother in major sources. Therefore, the correct answer is Salavati.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify Jivaka as the royal physician who served the Magadhan court and the Buddha. Step 2: Recall that Buddhist texts describe his humble origins as the abandoned son of a courtesan from Rajagriha. Step 3: Recognise that the name traditionally linked with this courtesan is Salavati. Step 4: Distinguish her from Amrapali, who is associated with Vaishali and different episodes involving the Buddha. Step 5: Note that Vasantasena is a literary courtesan from a Sanskrit drama and is not connected with Jivaka in historical accounts. Step 6: Conclude that Salavati is the correct name for Jivaka's mother.

Verification / Alternative check:
Narratives in Buddhist literature, including commentarial traditions, consistently identify Jivaka's mother as the courtesan Salavati. These sources describe how she left the child at the city gate due to social pressures, after which he was found and raised, later becoming famous as a compassionate and skilled doctor. No major source names Amrapali, Vasantasena, or Ramaniya as Jivaka's mother, which confirms Salavati as the correct option.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Ramaniya: Not the standard name associated with Jivaka's mother in recognised Buddhist or historical accounts.
• Vasantasena: A fictional courtesan character from the play “Mrichchhakatika,” unrelated to the historical or semi historical Jivaka.
• Amrapali: A famous courtesan of Vaishali who later became a devotee of the Buddha, but she is not identified as Jivaka's mother.

Common Pitfalls:
Because multiple celebrated courtesans appear in Indian literature and Buddhist stories, students sometimes confuse their names and locations. Amrapali, in particular, is very well known and may be incorrectly chosen. To avoid such confusion, remember two key associations: Jivaka's mother is Salavati of Rajagriha, while Amrapali is the courtesan of Vaishali who later embraced Buddhism.

Final Answer:
Jivaka, the royal physician of Rajagriha, is traditionally regarded as the son of the courtesan Salavati.