Bogar
was a legendary South Indian siddhar (a mystic, yogi). He
was said to have miraculous powers. He is also said in some
New Age circles to have been associated with Mahavatar Babaji.
Bhogar was a South Indian by birth, belonging to the caste
of goldsmiths, who became a siddhapurusha under the guidance
of Kalanginaathar. In Bogar's Saptakanda he reveals details
of various medicinal preparations to his disciple Pullippani
(so named as he is believed to have wandered in the forests
atop a puli or tiger) and at every stage he quotes his guru
as the authority. Also Pulippani must have been a young
man then, as he is often referred to as a balaka.
It
is said that as per the last wishes of his guru, Bhogar
proceeded to China to spread the knowledge of siddha sciences
and his journey is said to have been made with the aid of
an aircraft; he demonstrated to the Chinese the details
of the construction of the aircraft and later built for
them a sea-going craft using a steam engine. The details
of these and other experi- ments demonstrated by Bhogar
in China are clearly documented in the Saptakanda.
Bogar's
guru, Kalangi Nathar, is believed to be a Chinese who attained
siddhi in South India and thus became included among the
Eighteen Siddhars.
Lao
Tse - the founder of Taoism (5th century B.C.) was the first
Chinese to propound the theory of duality of matter -- the
male Yang and female Yin -- which conforms to the Siddha
concept of Shiva - Shakti or positive-negative forces. This
very same concept was first revealed by the adi-siddhar
Agasthya Rishi, whose period is as old as the Vedas, which
have been conservatively dated at 3500 B.C. Also alchemy
as a science was practised in China only after B.C. 135
and was practiced as an art until B.C. 175 when a royal
decree was enacted banning alchemical preparation of precious
metals by the Celestial Empire; these details are recounted
in the two existing Chinese books of alchemy Shih Chi and
Treatise of Elixir Refined in Nine Couldrons, both dated
to the first century B.C.
The
emergence of Lao Tse with his theory of duality of matter
and the journey of Bhogar to China seem to have taken place
about the same time and it is even possible that Bhogar
himself went under the name of Lao Tse in China, like another
Siddharishi Sriramadevar, who was known as Yacob in Arabia.
This
seems likely considering that: before Lao Tse the concept
of duality of matter finds no mention in any Chinese treatise;
alchemy as a science emerged only after B.C. 135, i.e. four
centuries after Lao Tse; there was a sudden spurt of alchemical
practice aher the emergency of Lao Tse; and the duality
of matter and alchemy have been mentioned in South Indian
scriptures that antidate Lao Tse by centuries.
Bogar
anticipating that in due course of period, human beings
will suffer from large number of disease. As an expert in
medicine he used 4448 rare herbs and made 9 poisonous medicine,
mixing these 9 poisons into one needs great knowledege and
skill, to make a Master Medicine ( One medicine to cure
all disease ). Thirumoolar also discuss one such Master
Medicine in his book Thiru Mandiram. With the consultation
of Agasthiar ( Father of Ayurvedic Medicine) and other siddhars
Bogar mixed the 9 poisons ( Nava Bashanam ) and made the
Master Medicine in the form of Lord Murugan which is currently
worshiped at Palani Murugan temple. There is a place near
Palani Hill called Thanasiappan Temple which is the place
were Bogar mixed the Nava Bashanam and made the Murugan
idol.
Bogar
and others then decided that by using the milk and panchamirtham
( a sweet recipe ) poured on the idol, one can extract the
medicine from the idol. The milk and panchamritham then
becomes medicine to cure disease. After installing Lord
Murugan Navabashana idol at the Palani Hill, Bogar used
to worship it with milk abishegam ( pouring milk on the
idol ) and panchamirtha abishegam ( pouring panchamirtham
on the idol ).
His
disciple Pulipani siddhar then took over the job of Lord
Murugan pooja after Bogar went into Nirvigalpa Samadhi -
the highest samadhi stage; where the Mind dissolves with
Matter and Energy. Bogar Samadhi is inside Palani Murugan
temple at Palani Hill. Actually Bogar himself constructed
his samadhi exactly under the Lord Murugan Navabasha idol
and went into Nirvigalpa Samadhi there. The entrance to
his samadhi is a cave like structure, now also worship for
this great siddhar is conducted at this entrance where he
is last seen by his disciples which is at the Palani temple.
The shrine at the top of the hill, though later than the
Tiru Avinankudi temple, has overshadowed the older temple
in the present century due to its popular appeal. Created
by Bhogar, it was maintained after him by sage Pulippani
and his descendants almost as their personal and private
temple.
During
the time of Tirumalai Nayak, his general Ramappayyan handed
over the puja rights to newly brought Brahmin priests. The
descendants of Pulippani were compensated for the loss of
this right by being given: Certain duties of superintendence
Right to some annual presents Right to shoot off, at the
Dasara Festival, the arrow which symbolises Subramanya's
victory over asuras. Right to be buried at the foot of the
steps leading to the hill, if some of them so chose.
