Paramahamsa
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Paramahamsa (परमहंस), also spelled paramahansa or paramhansa, is a Sanskrit religio-theological title of honor applied to Hindu spiritual teachers of lofty status who are regarded as having attained enlightenment. The title literally means "supreme swan," and symbolizes spiritual discrimination. The swan is equally at home on land or water. Similarly, the true sage is equally at home in the realms of matter and of spirit. To be in divine ecstasy and simultaneously to be actively wakeful is the paramahansa state; the 'royal swan' of the soul floats in the cosmic ocean, beholding both its body and the ocean as manifestations of the same Spirit.[1] Paramahansa is a sannyasi of the highest level of spiritual development in which union with ultimate reality is attained.[2]
Etymology
Paramahamsa is a Sanskrit word translated as "Supreme Swan." The word is compounded of Sanskrit परम parama meaning supreme or transcendent (from PIE per meaning through, across, or beyond, cognate with English far) and Sanskrit हंस hamsa meaning swan. The prefix parama is the same element seen in the title Parameshwara. English scholars euphemistically translated "hamsa" as swan, because in the English tradition a goose (the domesticated one) traditionally denotes foolishness and irresponsibility. But in Hindic tradition the wild goose is noted for its characteristics of discipline, stamina, grace, and beauty. This is especially true for the Anser indicus, whose migratory route from Central Asia to India and back, forces it to fly over the Himalayas twice a year. A feat which makes it fly higher than any known bird. And that is why God is also denoted as the "Paramahamsa". "Hamsa" may be a religious pun or allegory with a philosophical meaning. One such etymology suggests that the words 'aham' and 'sa' are joined to become 'hamsa'... 'Aham' is 'I' and 'sa' is 'He'- meaning 'I am He'. Here 'I' refers to the jivatma - the living soul and 'He' the supreme soul. This is part of Advaita philosophy which indicates one-ness of jivatama (living soul) and paramatma (the supreme soul). The Word 'Aham' is common for many religions. From 'aham', 'ahamkara' - 'ego' is derived. The alternative spellings are due to differing Romanizations of the Sanskrit word.
Mythology
The hamsa (swan) is the vahana, the mount or vehicle, of the god Brahma. In the Vedas and the Purânas it is a symbol for the soul/Soul. The hamsa is said to be is the only creature that is capable of separating milk from water once they have been mixed; symbolically this is the display of great spiritual discrimination. It is symbolic for a spiritually advanced being who is capable of controlling the breath energy in such a way that he only absorbs pure vibrations from all the different energies the world contains. To the Paramahamsa (the supreme celestial Swan) on the other hand, the whole of creation is God himself, there is nothing else but God alone. This person is a fully realized soul, completely liberated from all bonds with the world, who knows no obligations, no likes or dislikes. He is without any needs because he is completely immersed in God.
Theology
Paramahamsa, as a religio/theological title, is applied to an adept class of Hindu renunciates, liberated, realized masters who, having attained the supreme yogic state, or nirvikalpa samādhi, can always distinguish between the Real (sa) from the unreal (ham).
The hamsa mantra indicates the sound made by the exhalation ("ha") and inhalation ("sa") of the breath.
Privileged use
The title cannot be assumed by oneself, but must be conferred by a recognized authority, either another individual swami who is himself esteemed as enlightened, or by a committee of spiritual leaders.[citation needed]
Other meaning
Paramahaṃsa is also the title of one of the Upanishads.[3]
Paramahamsa title personalities
- Swami Nigamananda Paramahansa
- Paramahansa Swami Guru Janardan
- Parahamsa Ramakrishna
- Paramahansa Yogananda
- Ramakrishna Paramahamsa
- Paramahamsa Prajnanananda
References
- ^ Yogananda, Paramahansa. God Talks with Arjuna - The Bhagavad Gita. Self-Realization Fellowship 1995, ISBN 0-87612-030-3.
- ^ "Merriam-Webster Dictionary". Retrieved 2012-06-21.
- ^ In Sanskrit, a pre-consonantal nasal is written with a diacritic dot (the Anusvara) above the preceding character. The exact realization of the nasalization must be inferred from the context. Thus, we have Paramahaṃsa, Paramahamsa, Paramahaṇsa, and Paramahansa as equivalent transliterations.
External links
- Hindu lexicon
- Hindu glossary
- Hamsa - The Bar-headed Goose, Anser indicus