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In ancient Tamil texts, frequent references to a Chinese alchemist "Bogar" are found. 28,29 Many alchemical and medical works are attributed to him. The traditionally known story of the Chinese alchemist Bogar is as follows: Bogar came to India in the third century p. 338. 28 'See "The Concise History of Sciences of India", 29. Ray, P. (2), see Secondary Sources, p. 126.

113 AD, visited Patna or Pataliputra, Gaya and then South India. He learned alchemy and medicine from Tamil savants and also taught them some of the Chinese methods. He later visited Arabia and then returned to China. Bogar's teacher "Kalanginathar", also a Chinese, visited India along with him. The above-mentioned story of Bogar, if true, suggests that he must have been instrumental in the transmission of alchemical ideas between India and China. Hence studying this text is significant for investigating the influence of Chinese alchemy on Indian alchemy and vice versa. If Bogar were a Chinese, probably he had another Chinese name and "Bogar" or "Bhoga" is the Indian name given to him. Still it could be similar to his original Chinese name either in meaning or in pronunciation. Efforts to find Bogar's original Chinese name have proven futile since no such alchemist is mentioned in Chinese texts. The text "Bogar Karpam Three Hundred", which is attributed to the above-mentioned alchemist, was translated into English by the late Mr. A. Sundaramurti. This is a smaller version of the original Bogar text, which contains seven hundred verses and which is not yet available in English. Bogar karpam gives menthods of preparation of certain powders to be used for transmutation

114 of base metals into gold and silver, and also as elixirs of life. A portion of this text is devoted to the "kaya-kalpa" treatment by which rejuvenation and immortality can be achieved by dietary restrictions and consumption of elixirs. A large number of plants are mentioned in these three hundred and some odd verses. The extracts of these plants are used in the preparation of elixirs and also in metallurgical operations which also form a substantial part of the text. Some of the plants mentioned in "Bogar karpam" are also found in Sanskrit alchemical texts like "Rasarnavam" and "Rasarnavakalpa". Sanskrit names of these plants which are common in Sanskrit and Tamil texts are given below, along with their scientific names. Tamil Name Sanskrit Name Scientific Name Harindari 1 Karuvelli Citraka 2 Sem Aya Margam 3 Sem Citramulam Rakta (or red) Citraka Uccata, Kakatundi Asvagandha Plumbago Zeylancia Narium Odorum Plumbago Rosea Abrus Precatorus Withania Somnifera 4 Kunri 5 Amukkira 6 Kadukkai Hirda Terminalia Chebula 7 Enkkam Arka Calotropis gigentea. 8 Nelli Dhatri Phallanthus Emblica

115 A close study of the elixir-syntheses described in Bogar karpam reveals their pimitive nature. Almost all the powders or elixirs which are used for transmuting base metals into gold are also prescribed as edible elixirs. Poisonous substances like potassium nitrate, copper sulphate or ammonium chloride are included as elixir ingredients. We also came across these substances as elixir-ingredients in early medieval Chinese texts. Later Chinese alchemists had criticized their use and had 30 declared them inedible. The Tang dynasty, which lasted until the tenth century AD, saw a large number of emperors 31 dying of elixir-poisoning, which gave a setback to elixir alchemy in China after that period. Since Bogar indiscriminately uses all the substances, even the poisonous ones, in his edible elixirs, he is probably a figure not later than the tenth century AD. After the tenth century AD, the elixir-formulae of China became safer, with the majority of ingredients of plant origin.