Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa – Paramahansa Yogananda – ever wondered what the title Paramahansa stands for. Hamsa or Hansa is a term used to refer to a group of yogis who constantly meditate on ‘Ham – Sah.’ – I am He or I am That. Such yogis constantly meditate on identification with the Supreme Truth. They have realized that all animate and inanimate is the Supreme Truth including them.
Ham – Sha is mentally chanted by such yogis. It is chanted with every inhalation and exhalation.
Details about this form of meditation are found in the Gheranda Samhita and the Vigyan Bhairava. It was taught by Gorakhnath.
In modern times the meditation technique was taught by Paramahansa Yogananda.
Among the Dashnami sannyasis, the title is used by the highly evolved spiritual masters or saints.