Hamsah

This word Hamsa: (ഹംസ: हंस:) is one of the names of Lord Mahavishnu given in Vishnu Sahasranaama sthothram. I t is interesting to know more about this word and to explore how this word became a synonym of Bhagavan 

We are familiar with the divine sentence or Mahadvaakyam "aham Brahmaasmi" and instead of saying this one can say "aham sa:" meaning "I am He" where He refers to Brahmam. By meditating on the thought that "I am none other than  Parabrahmam itself" for a long time, eventually sadhaka or spiritual aspirant becomes Parabrahmam or merge with the Paramaathma Chaithanyam. One entity or one power that destroys the fear of those aspiring sadhakaas is called Hamsa: 

Mahanirvana Thanthra mentions that "ham" represents Shiva  and "sa" represents Shakthi. Hmasa or soham ( I am He or He is none other than Myself) is often compared with our breathing- "ham for inhaling and "sa" for exhaling. It can be the other wau too. Sa for inhaling  and ham for exhaling. So,  that power who controls our "praanan" or breathing or vital breath is Brahmam or Brahmam is the "praaneswaran or Lord of vital breath. Also it is interesting to note that all beings repeat " I am He" (Hamsa: or Soham) with each breath until we breath our last. When we do it knowingly or consciously or experiencing we are one with the Paramaathma Chaithanyam at the time of the last breath in a certain body,  we  merge with Parabrahmam never to return to the cycles of births and deaths. But when we repeat unknowingly, or with out experiencing " I am He", we are born again and again  until the grace of Paramaathma chaithanyam blesses us to experience it and leave the body. But even with little knowledge and effort, we progress in each janma or life towards the ultimate "I am He" state.

If we take the meaning 'swan' for Hamsa: we can look at it in a different way. A white swan is an embodiment of purity, saathvic nature and cleanliness. Also it is said that swans have the ability to separate and enjoy pure milk from a mixture of milk and water.  Likewise Hamsaas are people who accept only good things and reject or ignore negative things. In other words they see and experience only the good and are completely indifferent to negativity! This is only possible for those who are not attached to the material world.

So Paramaathma chaithanyam in the form of Bhagavan or the nirguna Parabarhamam is Hamsa: because nobody is a friend or foe for Him. He is only a witness and we experience our Praarabdha karmaas by taking different bodies and when we are ready to experience the presence of the Chaithanyam with in us and around us and everywhere, we become that Pramaathma chaithanyam! As long as we feel that we are separate from Him or that chaithanyam, we experience transient states of sorrow and happiness. Once we experience "I am he" one  becomes Hamsa:

May we have the blessings to see Him and feel His presence with in us and in the whole Universe!