Bogar

Bogar or Bhogar or Boganathar or Boyang was a Tamil siddhar who lived sometime between 550 and 300 BC. Described in several traditions and texts, he describes his native roots in his book "Bogar 7000". Bogar went from Tamil Nadu to China and taught about enlightenment, this is also mentioned in his book Bogar 7000. Bogar is said to be in "Nirvikalpa Samadhi" below the sanctum sanctorum of Palani Murugan hill temple.

The Tamraparniyan sea route was adopted by Bogar in his travels from South India to China via Sri Lanka (ancient Tamraparni). A disciple of Agastya's teachings, Bogar himself taught meditation, alchemy, yantric designs and Kriya yoga at the Kataragama Murugan shrine, inscribing a yantric geometric design etched onto a metallic plate and installing it at the sanctum sanctorum of the Kataragama complex.[1][2] Bogar is one of the earliest pilgrims to have traversed the Murugan Tiruppadai of Sri Lanka. According to legends and the temple scriptures of Palani temple, Bogar created the idol of Murugan at the hill temple in Palani by mixing nine poisonous herbs (Navapashanam) using a unique procedure. He also established the temple for Murugan in Poombarai Kuzhanthai Velappar temple Kodaikanal Tamilnadu, India. There is an extant statue of lord Murugan in Navapashanam. The milk that was poured on this statue has been said to have mixed with some of the herbs thereby proving to be an effective cure for the diseases during the time[3] The priests of Palani Murugan temple were said to have been the descendants of Pulipani, one of Bogar's students, until the sixteenth century.[4][5]

According to siddha medicine documents, Bogar was the discoverer of an elixir of immortality. The Pharmacognosy is the best known of his treatises. His other works are on yoga and archery, and a glossary of medicine.[6] He came to Palani after finishing a meditation in the Meru hills in Kumari kandam. He lived for more than a Yuga.