Romanisations of the Sanskrit words). This relationship reflects of Advaita philosophy, which advocates the oneness of jivatma and paramatma. The word aham is common to many Eastern religions. From aham is derived ahamkara or ego. 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 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 Some followers believe 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. Other meaning Paramahaṃsa is also the title of one of the Upanishads. Paramahamsa title personalities Srila Bhaktiratna Sadhu Maharaj Abhiram Parmahansa Chandradhoja Paramahansa Dev Dayanidhi Paramahansa Dev Paramahamsa Shri Gajanan Maharaj Kalna Paramhansa Lahiri Mahasaya Vishuddhananda Paramahansa Narayana Guru Nigamananda Paramahansa Paramahamsa Hariharananda Paramahamsa Prajnanananda Paramahamsa Vishwananda Paramahansa Yogananda Paramhansa Acharya Yogiraj Balkrishananda 'Mukta-Buddha' Paramhansa Nikhileshwarananda Paramahamsa Nithyananda Paramhansa Swami Niranjanananda Saraswati Paramhansa Swami Satyasangananda Saraswati Paramhansa Swami Satyananda Saraswati Ramakrishna Paramahamsa Sadanand ji Paramhansa Sivananda paramahamsa vadakara Shivdharmanand Paramahansa Srimad Durga Prasanna Paramahansa Dev Akhandamandaleshwer Swarupananda Paramhansa Deva alias Babamani Notes References External links Hindu lexicon Hindu glossary Hamsa - The Bar-headed Goose, Anser indicus Titles and occupations in Hinduism Swaminarayan Sampradaya