Bhogar Siddhar

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.

This seems likely considering that:

1) Before Lao Tse the concept of duality of matter finds no mention in any Chinese treatise;

2) Alchemy as a science emerged only after B.C. 135, i.e. four centuries after Lao Tse;

3)There was a sudden spurt of alchemical practice aher the emergency of Lao Tse; and

4) 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.

Devi Mayamma of Kanyakumari

In the holy shore of Kanyakumari, where the three oceans meet, there once lived a great soul. Some called her Amma, others called her Devi, sages called her Mother of the World. That was Devi Mayamma of Kanyakumari, one of the greatest Avadhootas of recent times.

No one knows when Mayamma first appeared on the sea shore. She walked on the hot sand, unaware of the heat or hunger. She was often seen swimming in the ocean or sitting on slippery rocks among the waves. Devotees who flocked to see her would wait for hours till she returned laughing from the sea. On land she was always surrounded by a pack of adoring dogs. She fed them whatever scraps of food she found, and with the same joyful look in her eyes, fed people too. Amma would collect cigarette butts, wet sea-weed and soaking plantain stems that littered the beach and miraculously set them ablaze into a crackling fire at night.

Amma never claimed to be anything special. But everyone who came to her was enveloped by the mysterious waves of kindness and compassion which flowed from her gaze. 

Many claim to have been freed from incurable diseases by Amma’s grace. Many others claim to have been blessed with prosperity and happiness by her boons. Amma had her curious ways too. She would step into any one of the seaside teashops, grab the idlys in the trays and hurl them out on the street for her dogs to eat. Shopkeepers would wait at dawn with baited breath hoping that Divine Mother would step into their shop first. It would be roaring business that day, they claim.

Sri Satya Sai Baba, Mata Amritanandamayi, Sankaracharya, Sri Chandrasekhara Saraswathi, Mouna Guru of Northern India, Jaggi Vasudev and other well known holy persons have sought Devi Mayamma’s blessings and urged their devotees to visit her. 

Renowned Avadhoots like Sri Koti Swamigal and Sri Poondi Mahan have praised her as the Mother of the Universe. She was also visited by President Zail Singh and other dignitaries. And then one day in 1986, Devi Mayamma disappeared from Kanyakumari! Where did she go? Where is she now? 

Devi Mayamma left Kanyakumari along with her faithful attendant and disciple Rajendran. Sri Rajendran used to look after her like a loving son. She moved to Salem (5/184, Mayamma Kovil, Santhi Nagar, Chinnakollapatti, Salem-636008.) and settled into a little house with Sri Rajendran, his wife and three children. She lived in that beautiful place on the outskirts of the pleasant hill station of Yercaud for six long years. Rare and fortunate devotees sought her blessings there till she finally gave up her earthly form in Maha Jeeva Samadhi.

Devi Mayamma passed into Maha Jeeva Samadhi on the day of Sashthi on the 9th of February, 1992. 

Rathinagiri Bala Murugan Adimai

One day in his 27th year, a young man on his way to work as a clerk in the Electricity Department climbed the Rathinagiri Hill to offer his prayers. There was neither camphor nor incense available at the poor and delapitated temple. He walked around the shrine with a heavy heart and was suddenly overcome with divine awakening. He fell in a faint to the ground and on waking up was unable to remember his own self. He dressed himself in a loincloth. He took a sacred vow not to leave until the temple was restored to its former glory.

This memorable event of Swami's spiritual awakening took place on 20th March 1968. Ever since then Swami's spiritual well being of his devotees has continued unabated. Swami maintains maunam all these years, but he agreed to give this written account on 27 October 2001. "(Until that fateful day) I was not so fond of bhakti, but I used to pass by this way every day to reach my office work by 9 am. While passing by I would offer worship just like other people. 

But on that 20th March 1968 I climbed the hill to have darshan. He asked the priest who was doing puja to burn a little camphor for aradhana. He said, "We have no camphor and no incense."

He felt like crying. He came out from the moolasthanam and went for pradakshinai (circumambulation) and worship seeing the Deity.

At that moment he lost all my other concerns and made up my mind to have a vow to make the poor sanctum of Rathinagiri to be as glorious as the Lord's Aru Padai Veedukal.


From that day onwards he have been observing maunam (silence) and doing my prayers. Now when visitors come to the temple, he is offering them food and hospitality. Now you can see the change in status of the temple. It is not I but the Lord or His Grace (that makes this possible).

Now Rathinagiri Bala Murugan Temple has become one of the famous and notable temples of South India. And it will become one among the Padai Veedus shortly.

Matsyendranath Siddha

Nath Siddha Matsyendranath

Nath Siddha Matsyendranath or the "Fish Lord" is the first Guru of the nine Naths. Along with Gorakhnath, Matsyendranath is regarded as the founder of the Nath, Kaula and Kanphata traditions. He initiated the practices of Laya, Hatha and Raja Yogas. 

According to legend, Nath Siddha Matsyendranath was a fisherman from Kamarupa in Assam who hooked a giant fish and was swallowed alive by it. The fish came to rest on the ocean floor near a hidden place, which Shiva had chosen to convey his most secret teaching to his consort Uma. 

From within the belly of the fish Nath Siddha Matsyendranath overheard these secret teachings and received his mantra directly from Shiva, who had no option but to make Matsyendranath his disciple. Nath Siddha Matsyendranath spent twelve years perfecting his sadhana living in the belly of the fish until he was eventually disgorged onto dry land. He had many disciples, the most prominent of which was Gorakhnath. 

In Nepal, Nath Siddha Matsyendranath is identified with the Buddhist bodhisattva of compassion, Avalokitesvara, who is identified with Shiva as Lokanath-"Lord of the World." Nath Siddha Matsyendranath is the patron deity of Nepal, and is believed to have brought the first grains of rice to this Himalayan Kingdom.

He was popularly known as Minanatha and was an inhabitant of either Chandradwip (Barisal) or sandwip in Bengal.

Kalanginathar

Kalangi Nathar was the guru of Bhogar (or Bhogarnathar). Kalangi Nathar was from Benaras. He was also referred to the great confucious of china who was the back bone of the chinese civilisation.

Kalangi Nathar and bogar were considered to possess an ideal master and student relationship. It is said that they had a mutual care among both of them in their own spiritual progresses. Kalangi nathar, especially took more care and strain towards the spiritual advancement of his disciple bogar. Kalangi nathar was behind bogar's every development and his innovations for the world.

He is often referred to us kanjamalai siddhar. The word "kanjam" stands for the following meaning - gold, copper and Iron and malai means hill. It is said that paranthaka chozha who built sri nataraja temple with golden roof, took the gold from this hill. Also the water falls seen in this hill is called "ponni nadhi".

He is the disciple to the great siddha Thirumoolar. He is one among the seven disciples whom thirumoolar transcended his knowledge. The other six being -Indran, Soman, Rudhran, Kanduru,Brahman and kanjamalaiyan.

The shrine of Kalangi Nathar is found in a small village in Salem, Tamil Nadu. This village is 12 km away from salem city. This place is in via route to Ilampillai.

He is supposed to have been attained jeeva samadhi in this place several hundred years ago.

Kalanginathar is Boghar's father according to Boghar's poem. Boghar gloring kalanginathar in many of his verses.

Main Source: Gavanagar Muzhakkam Magazine

Kumaraguru Paraswamigal

Another classic of the 17th century in praise of the of Tiruchendur is Kandar Kalivenba by Kumaraguru Paraswamigal, a Saiva ascetic. The author was horn in 1625 A.D. of a Saiva Vellala family at Srivaikuntam on the northern hank of the Tambaraparani, nineteen miles from Tiruchendur. His parents Shanmukha Sikhamani Kavirayar and Sivakami Ammaiyar were blessed with this child after a long penance to Muruga of Tiruchendur. The boy grew of age and until his fifth year showed no signs of speech. The parents were pained at this and resorted to Tiruchendur penance again. Weary of waiting for months and seeing signs of approaching speech, the parents determined to drown themselves in the sea along with the child if he would not speak by a particular day.

The day dawned, and yet there were no signs. At last, both the parents and the child entered the foamy waves. Deeper and deeper they went from knee to neck and, as they were about to sink with the waves over their heads a human form appeared with a flower in his hand and asked the child what it was; when lo! the child broke out in praise of the Lord with the words of the lines.

"Pûmêvu cenkamalap puttêLuntêRRiya
Pâmêvu teyvap pazhamaRaiyum…."

This poem, the Kantarakalivempâ of 244 lines is a delightful piece of the Lord's praise and the truths of Saiva Siddhanta. And it is considered even now with great propriety that its recitation with warmth and fervour wards off many an evil attending on man.

Having studied Tamil at the feet of his father Sanmukacikâmani Kavirayar, and attained in it great proficiency by divine grace, he grew up to manhood, took to an austere way of life, left home, and wandered throughout the Tamil country visiting famous places of pilgrimage and composing poems on the presiding deities. When he was at Dharmapuram, he was drawn to the monastery's head Mâcilâmani Tecikar, and begged him to be admitted as his disciple and initiated into the sannyâsa âsrama. Mâcilâmani asked the young poet to visit important pilgrim centers including Benares, and return to him then. Kumarakuruparar felt incapable of such undertaking, arduous and dangerous in those days. He was directed to stay at least in Chidambaram for some time and then apply. He complied with this condition and afterwards took the holy orders. While he was a court-poet of Tirumalai Nâyaka at Madurai, one day as he was inaugurating his devotional poem in praise of goddess Mînâtci at the royal court, the goddess appeared herself as a young maiden and sat on the lap of the Nâyaka king, and taking a necklace of pearls, put it on the neck of the poet and vanished.

Finally, Kumarakuruparar left for Benares. His fame reached even the Mughal court at Delhi. Emperor Aurangzib expressed a desire to see him, and the poet-saint (who had in the meantime mastered Urdu) rode to the Mughal court on the back of a lion, the symbol of courage and pride. The emperor was so much impressed by the poet's holiness and learning that he bestowed on him a plot of land in Benares near the Kedar Ghat, and there Kumarakuruparar built the Kumârasvâmi monastery which became soon the heart of religious activities. He lived in Benares till the end of his days except for a short visit to the South to pay his respects to his guru. The tradition also says that Kumarakuruparar who was very fond of Kampau's Tamil Râmâyana lectured on it in Benares and that Tulsîdâs, the great Hindi poet of Râmcaritmânas, heard these talks and became indebted to Kanpan through the lectures of Kumarakuruparar.

Amongst Kumarakuruparar's other literary works, Meenakshi Pillai-Tamil, Meenakshi-kurram, Neethineri-Vilakkami Madhuraikkalampakam and others are ever popular and widely read.

Main Source: http://murugan.org

Seshadri Swamigal

Sri Seshadri Swamigal, well known as the "Saint with a golden hand", is one of the greatest Indian saints who lived Thiruvannaamalai. He is being worshiped as a religious guru by many Hindus throughout the world.

Sri Seshadri Swamigal was born on January 22, 1870 in a small village near Kanchipuram in South India in the renowned family of Kamakoti. He studied Vedas (Hindu religious literature) at a very young age. An incident in his childhood reveals the greatness of his power when his mother took him to a temple fair and he touched an idol from a seller who had all the idols sold out like hotcakes, which were not getting sold out earlier. This gave him the name "Thanga Kai" (golden hand). His parents died when he was still in his teens. Just before his mother died, she asked him to sing 'Ambe Sive' (a composition of his grandfather's) and then, in the moments before she died, she called out, "Arunachala! Arunachala! Arunachala!" The word Arunachala struck a deep cord in Sheshadri Swamigal. Though he had never been to Arunachala, he sketched the five peaks of the holy hill on a board and from then on worshipped Arunachala every day. Having no worldly attachments, he became a sanyasi (ascetic) and came to Tiruvannamalai in 1889 at age nineteen and remained there for forty years until he died in the year 1929.

When Ramana Maharshi came to Tiruvannamalai seven years after Seshadri Swamigal's arrival, Seshadri was immediately aware of the young swami's state of Self-abidance and he felt a motherly love for him. Sri Ramana spent his time then immersed in the bliss of the Self in the thousand-pillared hall in the front portion of the Arunachaleswara Temple. Urchins, not understanding his state, pelted him with stones. Sri Seshadri tried to protect the young swami who seemed quite unaware of his body and surroundings, but the urchins continued their harassment. To avoid this unwanted attention, Sri Ramana moved into the Patalalingam, an underground vault in the temple. He remained there, in deep meditation, for many day, oblivious to the ants, vermin, and mosquitoes who were feasting on him. Sri Seshadri found him there and asked his (Sri Seshadri's) devotee Venkatachala Mudaliar to lift "his child" out.^[1] He cleansed Ramana's blood-oozing wounds and revealed Ramana as a [saint] to the world.

Seshadri Swamigal's behavior was quite eccentric and unpredictable. He acted like a mad man at times to fend off worldly people, but to earnest seekers he was extremely gentle and considerate.^[2]

Sri Seshadri blessed his devotees and helped cure their illnesses with his wonderful touch. While roaming the streets of Tiruvannamalai, he would sometimes enter a shop and dump the cash from a cashbox or throw the articles from the shops. The shops he entered used to do good business on that day and so shop keepers would eagerly await his arrival. To this day, the shops in Tiruvannamalai have his photos as a symbol of good luck and prosperity.

Sri Seshadri was a great worshipper of Shakti.

Sri Seshadri died in January 1929, at the age of 59. His body was not cremated but buried, as is the custom in the case of a saint. It is believed that Bhagavan Ramana Maharishi was present at the place silently observing the rituals till it was completed. It is often quoted that the devotees called Sri Seshadri "Periya Seshadri" (elder Seshadri) and Sri Ramana Maharishi as "Chinna Seshadri" (younger Seshadri).^[3]