Believed to have lived over 3,000 years ago, Bogar was a saint of the nearly extinct Siddha cult. He was a yogi and a master craftsman and engineer in all fields of science. He is one of the 18 Siddhas. It is believed that he traveled widely to spread Siddha worship and yoga. Ultimately, she chose the Palani Hills for her yoga and tap-dancing practice. Bogar, an unrivaled expert in Siddha medicine, blended over 4,448 rare herbs to create ‘Navapashanam’, the 9 Pashanas. By mixing these 9 Pashanas in the right proportions, he created the one master medicine, a remedy for all diseases, in the form of the main deity of Lord Murugan in Palani. Sage Bogar believed that the medicinal properties of the idol could be extracted in the form of Abhishekams. By consuming the contents of the Abhishekam in the form of milk and Panchamirtham poured over this idol, he assumed that the healing ability of the Navapashanams could be fully utilized. One who takes these Prasadhams gets cured of his illnesses. It is a great gift from an ancient guru to the many people suffering from this period.
The Bogar Samadhi:
Bogar is also fervently revered among Palani devotees and pilgrims. The Bogar Samadhi is found southwest of Lord Murugan’s shrine in a narrow cave-like corridor. This is believed to be where he attained Nirvaglapa Samadhi: the highest stage where the mind becomes one with all-pervading matter and energy. It is believed that there is an underground passage, built by Bogar himself, which ends just below the feet of Shri Bala Dandhayuthapani in the sanctum sanctorum: At Bogar Samadhi we can have a darshan of idols of Arulmigu Bhuvaneswari Amman and Maraghadha lingam which are believed they were worshiped by Bogar himself. Devotees believe that if one goes there and prays in Samadhi, one’s wishes are granted.
