The Wisdom of Hamsa/Sohum

Did you know that the sacred swan (known as hamsa in Sanskrit) is the ride of Devi Saraswati, the Goddess of wisdom? Every year, 40 days before the arrival of spring on the 5th day (panchami) after the new moon, marks the day of festivities in anticipation of Spring (Basant). It is also known as Sri Panchami, a day dedicated to the divinity of Wisdom, Speech, and Sound—Devi Saraswati. Often times, it is called Saraswati Panchami.

Exoteric Rituals: There are many beautiful external rituals practiced on this day to give an early welcome to spring and to pay homage to Devi Saraswati. Some examples are: Bathing in the holy waters of the Ganges, wearing yellow clothes, eating foods and sweets that are yellow or seasoned with saffron and turmeric, chanting the mantras of Sri Saraswati, and decorating the house with yellow flowers. Yellow color symbolizes the state of wisdom (golden aura) and the blooming of mustard flowers in India.

Esoteric Ritual and Symbology: Beyond the outward rituals, it is the internal rituals—the esoteric—that always intrigued me. So, I share with you the Gupta vali- the secret, internal meaning of Basant Panchami. How to realize the state of divine wisdom and celebrate the blooming of the flowers of consciousness.

Saras = river/stream

Wati = container/possessor of

Saraswati means the one in whom resides (wati) the auspicious river/streams (saras) of wisdom, sound, and prana (life force). In the iconography of Saraswati, she is seated on the swan—a symbol of clarity, purity, and discernment. She is adorned in white clothes of clarity and purity; the white color of the gushing streams and of the Brahma nadi within the central channel.

The word for swan, hamsa, when reversed, becomes Soham. It is a mantra that means, “I am That.” It is the most powerful, innate, and effortless mantra of realization, which is incessantly played within. It is the sound of our own incoming and outgoing breath. Close your ears and simply listen to your breath, the incoming breath sounds like “so” and the outgoing like “ham.”

Saraswati plays a stringed instrument called the Veena. A similar stringed instrument resides within us, in our subtle body, in the form of the nadis/channels/rivers through which nada/prana/wisdom flows.

Our speech, silence, and breath symbolize Devi Saraswati, the sacred river of wisdom. This sacred river flows through the nasal canal as the river of prana. The nasal region is our own two-winged mystical bird, or Swan/hamsa. When the prana flows through it, it plays the three-stringed musical instrument that is the three main nadis—lunar-left/ida, solar-right/pingala and the fiery-central/sushumna. When the prana, as rhythm of breath, enters the central channel of fire/illumination, there is realization of wisdom. Thus, Saraswati flows through us as words, prana, silence, and music.

Practice: Chant the mantra “Soham” internally: “So” upon inhalation and “ham” upon exhalation, for as many times as it feels pleasant and sustains effortless focus.

Let the rivers of prana flow through the central channel of wisdom and may the Sacred Swan-hamsa take a flight of discernment.

My top three recommendations for you to invoke Devi Saraswati:

1. Participate in the study of Gayatri Mantra through Gayatri Mantra Sadhana workshop coming up in Feb 2023. Sign up now to study about the glory of Devi Saraswati as Gayatri through mantra, 32 hand mudras, nyasa, pranayama and more. Details here
2. Learn the most sacred practice of Yoga: Yoga Nidra. It is a 50 Hour Training, held in person in Dubai and offers CEU to eligible participants. Details here
3. Get yourself a Sattva wrap or Sattva Mala, designed to honor and invoke Devi Saraswati.

3 WAYS TO LEARN MORE ABOUT MANTRAS

1. Join the 3 Class Series Mantra Unlocked (held online) starting July 19, 2023
2. Listen to the Mantra Album on iTunes or Amazon Music
3. Practice the 108 Japa of Gayatri Mantra and MahaMritunjaya Mantra with me.

Essential Ayurveda for Yoga Professionals, Starting Aug 23, 2023

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