The following text is found in Srividyaratnakara of Swami Karpatri and also in Parasurama Kalpa Sutra (III.12).
The kundalini (coiled energy), which resides in the muladhara
chakra, is around with the ham bija. Muladhara chakra enfolds the illuminated
root of all existence, has three-and-a-half folds, is as bright as a flash of lightning,
and has the cooling effect of a thousand moons. The arousal of kundalini, in
turn, arouses the jiva-Shiva (Shiva in the individual self) residing in the
heart like the burning wick of a lamp, lifts it to the highest point, and
brings it up to the complete identification with Paramatma (I am He).
The atman (self) is conceived as the hamsa (soaring swan).
Then a sinful person, of the size of a thumb, headless, with theft as the arms,
meat-consumption as the heart, heinous crime as the waist, minor crimes as the
hair, with a sword and a leather shield, and wearing a dirty and odorous
garment, is conceived as lying dormant in the left rib. This sinful person has
to be reduced to ashes and a pure subtle person is to be created instead.
The second step is to draw in the vital breath through the
left nostril, contemplating that the yam bija of vital air should dry up this
sinful person through expiration.
The third step is to draw in the vital air through the right
nostril, contemplating on the fire element ram bija, so that the dried up evil person
is reduced to ashes.
The fourth step is to invoke the vam bhija and the water
element, of the quality of amrita (nectar), to bring the real pure person to
new life by showering the life principle on the body.
The fifth step is to invoke the earth element and lam bija
to create a sambhava (purified) body.
The sixth step is to invoke the hrim beeja and the perfect
union of Shiva and Shakti to charge this new body with his unity.
Lastly, the uttering of ‘Ham Sa So Ha (Am I, I am)
repeatedly will bring this person back to muladhara. This verily is Bhuta Shuddhi
(purification of all elements).
‘Ham sa so ham’ has several layers of meaning –
- The breath exhaled is again inhaled; the inhaled is in turn exhaled.
- The being is transformed into the universal Being, and then drawn within as a purified, undiversified Being.
- The soaring swan, a symbol of meditation on ‘Am I, I am’ becomes equated with universal Being through this meditation.