Palani Murugan Temple –Bhogar Shrine (Bhogar Samadhi)
The Bhogar Shrine is in the southwestern corridor of the
hill temple. Siddhar Bhogar created the icon (the amalgam of nine minerals) and
did daily services. He lived long ago, perhaps 3000 BC. A medical prodigy as he
was, he could prepare the amalgam on nine medicinal minerals in proper
proportion.
In this shrine, pujas are offered to Navadurga,
Bhuvaneswari and Maragatha Lingam that were worshipped by Bhogar. It is said
that there is a subterranean tunnel linking the shrine with the sanctum
sanctorum through which Bhogar is said to go to the main idol and perform daily
pujas as he is said to be only in Nirvigalpa Samadhi.
No pilgrim should fail to mark attendance at the shrine
of Bhogar in the southwestern corridor of the temple. He it was who created the
navapashanam image and consecrated the deity.
God is believed to have appeared to saints in certain
forms. These are forms made to appear to them by his grace or rather they are
outward symbols of his mercy as omnipresent, but assumes certain forms at certain
times just as sea-water sometimes takes the form of an iceberg.
Bhogar is believed to have lived in the beginning of
Kali Yuga, i.e. before 3,000 B.C. and traveled widely in the near and Far East.
He is said to have been a rare mathematical prodigy, a diplomat of great caliber
and an expert in the field of medicine.
Bhogar realised the importance of Muruga worship and
conferred with Siddhars on the form in which Muruga's image should be installed
atop the hill. He created the amalgam of nine chemicals and did daily services.
