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Bhogar was a South Indian by birth, belonging to the caste of goldsmiths, who became a siddha purusha under the guidance of
Kalanginaathar. In Bhogar'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 strangely enough 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, Kālāngi Nāthar, 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.
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.
Gateway of Earth & Stone
At the top of Palani Hill, near the holy Murugan which Bhogar had crafted from nine poisonous substances, there is an opening in the Earth; it is a hole in the ground; the mouth of a cave which lies below. Bhogar often lowered himself into the Earth, sat in the cave, accessing Life's hidden secrets. He performed great austerities there, the magnitude of which very few in this modern age can fathom.
There at the opening Bhogar erected a humble shrine to the Great Mother: a few yantras, a couple of five-metal icons baring the form of the Mother and her son Murugan. He worshipped a small emerald lingam there, about ten inches in height. His one and only disciple, Pulipani (perhaps the only one who truly understood the sage), kept him company at the entrance to the underground cavern on the top of Palani Hill.
When Bhogar felt that his outer work was done, he entered the gateway of earth and stone and sat down in the darkness of the cave. Faithful Pulipani heaved a stone slab over the entrance, sealing Bhogar forever in the blackness of his earthen womb.
For thirteen generations Pulipani's descendants have watched over that stone slab that marks the gateway to the underground chamber. Long ago, Bhogar's little shrine was set atop that hallowed spot, and even today, is still worshipped by the vigilant sons of the faithful Pulipani.
They say that Bhogar is seated quietly in meditation even now; alone in the darkness; watching the slow passage of time.
His breath is still. His mind is quiet, his heart unwavering; but through the dense dark matter of his earthly form stabs the vibrant & relentless flame of the Kundalini Shakti. There he waits...
Courtesy: Forward to Shaking the Tree: Kundalini Yoga, Spiritual Alchemy, & the Mysteries of the Breath in Bhogar's 7000
English rendering by Layne Little
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