Hamsa Upanishad
(Part of the Sukla Yajur Veda)

Introduction:

This Upanishad talks about the famous Sanskrit term "Hamsa". This Upanishad is part of the Sukla Yajur Veda.

The Upanishad:

Om ! That (world) is a complete whole. This (world) too is a complete whole. From the complete whole only, the (other) complete whole rose. Even after removing the complete whole from the (other) complete whole, still the complete whole remains unaltered and undisturbed.

Om Shanti ! Shanti ! Shanti !

The Sage Gowthama says (addressing the Sage Sanathkumaara): “O the wise one, who has learnt and understood all the dharmaas (the virtues)! The one who is an expert in all the treasured doctrines of knowledge (or the saastraas)! Please advice me as to what is the right path to be adopted to understand Brahma Vidya (the knowledge of the Brahman or the Atma or the Supreme Soul) and to attain its ultimate stage of pure (spiritual) knowledge (identity of the soul).

Sanathkumara replies thus: “You can now hear from me that principle (or the tattva) which was taught by Devi Paarvathi (Goddess Ambal, in the form of consort of Siva), after understanding the thoughts of Lord Siva and after analyzing fully well all the saastraas”.

Sanathkumara continues: “This is a top secret; and is preserved very carefully as a treasure by the Yogis (those who have known their real identity); this principle clarifies and makes one understand the Hamsa (the Swan) aspect. It gives liberation and pure knowledge as the end result for the follower. And as such, this should not be talked about in clear detail with those who are not capable enough to understand this and who are not qualified enough to attain such results”.

More says Sanathkumara: “Let us now go ahead and explain in detail - to that celibate, who has won his senses and who has true devotion towards his Guru - all about how to meditate and chant the slogan or mantra – ‘hamsa hamsa’ ”.

“That one who understands the Supreme Being which resides in all beings like the inherent presence of fire in the firelogs and of oil in gingelly seeds, he will never die or attain the fate of other mortals.”

Om ! That (world) is a complete whole. This (world) too is a complete whole. From the complete whole only, the (other) complete whole rose. Even after removing the complete whole from the (other) complete whole, still the complete whole remains unaltered and undisturbed.

Om Shanti ! Shanti ! Shanti !

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