Paramahamsa (also paramahansa) -- This is a religio/theological title associated with particular Hindu saints, by their devotees; one thus sees these religious figures referred to as -- "Ramakrishna Paramahamsa" and "Paramahansa Yogananda".

Etymology

Paramahamsa is a Sanskrit word translated as "Supreme swan." It is a title created by combining hamsa meaning swan (more precisely, the high-flying Indian goose, Anser indicus) with the superlative suffix para- meaning "Supreme; highest; beyond."

Mythology

The hamsa 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 together.

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 samadhi, 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.

Similar uses of different titles

Other religio/theological titles are similarly used; e.g. see also: Christ, Mahatma, Sri, Roshi, Rinpoche, Rabbi/Rebbe

References

• Hindu lexicon

• Hindu glossary

• Ramakrishna's titles

• Hamsa - The Bar-headed Goose, Anser indicus