The Life Story and Miraculous Powers of Siddha Boganathar

Transmigration to China

It is said that, because of the difference in skin color and language, Boganathar, with the help of his pranic body, transmigrated into the body of a Chinese man. After the transmigration, Boganathar took the Chinese name Bo Yang. Feeling the inferiority of his Chinese body, Boganathar practiced kaya-kalpa.

Some believe that Boganathar and Lao Tzu are one and the same person, that is, Lao Tzu is Boganathar, who entered the body of a Chinese man and attained immortality through the methods of kaya-kalpa.

Boganathar is one of the greatest Tamil siddhas after Tirumular. The next statues we will make are statues of Gorakshanath, Boganathar, and Tirumular. Boganathar was a great siddha beyond space and time; he is also considered a master of kaya-kalpa and prakrita-siddhi. Some texts say that in those ancient times he invented the parachute, the airplane, the steamship, and the train. He flew to China in his airplane. He was also a master of the transference of consciousness, parakaya-praveshana, as well as alchemy and chittar medicine (the medicine of the siddhas).

Origin and Attainment of Siddhi

In the “Jnana Sagaram,” Bogar says that he was born of the Adi Siddha, that is, of the Absolute, thus indicating his belonging to the lineage of hereditary siddhas. He learned about the origin of his birth with the help of the divine eye, the eye of wisdom (divya-chakshu). He said that he belonged to the kaya-laya line—he took the form of a bird and flew (kaya-laya is another name for pranava). There he practiced kundalini yoga and was named Bogar. He received initiation from a siddha named Kalangi, attained Self-knowledge through the practice of kundalini yoga, became a siddha, and acquired all miraculous powers. Stating that he knows the technique of kaya-siddhi, Bogar explains the method of transforming the body into a mature one with the help of a system of medicine, as well as the technique of transforming it into a divya-deha through kundalini yoga. For a long time he lived in the divya-deha, the body of Golden Light. He says that he took a pill called kaya-kalpa and lived in the body of Golden Light in various countries for another twelve thousand years.

The Parable of the Kaya-Kalpa Pill

An interesting parable tells of the effectiveness of the kaya-kalpa pill.

Bogar was once returning from China with his three disciples and a dog. On the way he gave one pill to the dog, which fell down dead. Bogar gave another pill to one of the disciples, who also fell down as if dead. He gave two more pills to the other two disciples, who, out of fear of dying, hid them without swallowing them. Bogar swallowed another pill and likewise fell down as if dead. Seeing this, the two remaining disciples threw away their pills and went to the market to buy everything necessary to bury the bodies of the dog, the disciple, and their guru. Returning from the market, they discovered that the bodies had disappeared from their former place, while all three were at a considerable distance, thereby showing that the pills had done their work.

This is a well-known story in which the dog, the disciple, and Boganathar himself attained immortality through the methods of kaya-kalpa. The two other disciples, who had been frightened, came to that place and saw that their bodies were no longer there, while a note from Boganathar remained, which read: “The dog, the disciple, and I have attained immortality, while you may do as you wish because of your faintheartedness and unbelief.”

This parable emphasizes two points: the first is the power of the pill, and the second is that a true disciple must have unconditional faith in his guru.

Thanks to Bogar’s description of medicinal plants and preparations, he is called the father of Siddha medicine and chemistry.

I have read that there is an opinion that some identify the Chinese Bo Yang with the Russian volkhv Boyan. It is said that they are one and the same person. Since Boganathar lived for a very long time, he traveled through various countries; for a time he stayed in Russia in the guise of the volkhv and storyteller Boyan. How much this can be trusted is another question.

Miraculous Stories from the Life of Boganathar

Having entered the state of samadhi, Bogar became like a stone statue. The lion and lioness stopped at the place of Bogar’s samadhi, thinking that he was made of stone. There they hunted animals and lived as husband and wife, producing offspring. One day, when the lion placed its head on the lap of the stone figure, licking it, tears from Bogar’s eyes unexpectedly fell into the lion’s mouth. Having tasted the siddha’s tear, the lion gained wisdom and understood that this was not a statue, but a siddha in a state of samadhi. From that day on, the lion and his family kept the area in front of Bogar’s figure clean. They began to pray and to eat pure vegetarian food: leaves and fruits. When Bogar came out of the state of samadhi, he asked the lion who he was. The lion told him how he had done all kinds of terrible things in Bogar’s presence, thinking that Bogar was merely a statue, and how he had gained wisdom by tasting Bogar’s tear. Hearing this, Bogar blessed the lion so that in his next birth he would be born a king.

During the time when Bogar lived on Mount Pathigaya, he went to a nearby village where Brahmins were reciting Veda mantras. Seeing Bogar, they asked him to leave so that he would not hear their mantras. In order to teach the proud Brahmins a lesson, Bogar caught a cat and taught it the Veda mantras. The cat began to recite them in a piercing voice so that the Brahmins would hear it. Realizing their mistake, the Brahmins fell prostrate before Bogar, begging him to forgive their foolish behavior. Then Bogar asked the Brahmins to bring all their belongings and turned everything into gold. The Brahmins were blissful and happy.

One day, a lost pregnant cow, fleeing from a tiger, hid in a cave. She began to live there, feeding only on karuneli leaves, which possess a special medicinal property. Their substance also entered the calf in her womb. These leaves have the ability to transform an ordinary body into a karpa-deha, an eternal divine body. When Bogar was wandering in search of this medicinal plant, he saw the cow with a calf possessing an eternal body and gave them his blessing.

Inventions and Travels

In order to jump easily from the top of a hill, Bogar describes a cage made from a round umbrella to which silk threads and thirty-two taut reed stalks with a wheel attached to them are tied. A piece of cloth must cover the bound reed stalks, tied with a rope knot, so that the principle of a soaring falcon underlies this device. If one jumps while tying oneself to such an umbrella, air enters it, and it becomes like a sphere, lifting the person into the air and lowering him safely to the ground.

Bogar also speaks of his art of aerial flight, and how he made a flight to China. This kind of flight likewise belongs to the attainments of kundalini yoga. Bogar also devised a steamship in which, according to him, many people could be accommodated. In addition, he speaks of a vehicle capable of moving without the help of a horse, that is, by steam or gas. He also mentions a moving vehicle that emits smoke.

Encounters with Great Teachers of Different Traditions

Bogar also relates how he saw the apostles of Christ. In his self-moving vehicle he went to Jerusalem. According to him, he visited Rome, where he saw all twelve apostles of Jesus in samadhi, and he mentions the name Immanuel. He also observed Romans praying at the places of Jesus’ samadhi, seeking his protection. In addition, according to him, having learned of the greatness of Jesus Christ from his many followers, he himself visited and honored the place of Jesus’ samadhi. He remarks that in this Kali Yuga he had never heard of miracles like those performed by Christ.

Bogar also visited Mecca in order to meet with the disciples of Mohammed Nabi. According to him, he saw many Mohammedans there and visited the place of Nabi’s samadhi. He asks: “Is there anywhere on Earth another place like Mecca?”

He also recounts how Yakov wanted to receive the great initiation (mahadiksha) from Bogar in order to see Kalingi and Kamalamuni and receive blessings and instructions from them. According to information taken from Bogar’s poems, he apparently lived for twelve thousand years in another country, in China.

Meeting Thirumular and the Legacy

Thanks to his mystical powers, Boganathar met Thirumular, who had remained continuously in samadhi throughout the last three yugas (Dvapara Yuga, Treta Yuga, and Satya Yuga). Through this meeting, he received initiation from Thirumular. He wrote that his body emitted various fragrances and shone with light. After this, he called himself the grandson of the rishi Thirumular, and Thirumular his grandfather.

Some believe that Boganathar was a Buddhist from China who often visited India. Some call Boganathar a Chinese Taoist. But in fact, this information may be contradictory for one reason: Boganathar often changed his body, as did many siddhas. Without dying, he left one person’s body and entered another’s, and therefore changed his name. For this reason, it is impossible to trace Boganathar’s identity precisely, even by analyzing various texts and his autobiography.

We have a text on Kundalini Yoga written by Boganathar, which received very high praise from other rishis. It describes the path of enlightenment in a manner similar to the text “Tirumantiram,” written by the rishi Thirumular.

If you want to receive a blessing in Kundalini Yoga, you should always turn to or meditate by performing Guru Yoga with Gorakshanath, Thirumular, and Boganathar, regarding them as inseparable from the guru.