Hamsopanishad, a minor Upanishad attributed to the Shukla Yajurveda, consists of 21 mantras presented in both prose and poetry, following the anustubh meter. Rishi Gautama initiates the discourse by querying the venerable Sanatkumara, recognized as a mind-born son of the four-faced Brahma. The central inquiry is, "By what means can one attain knowledge of the Supreme Brahman?"
In response, Sanatkumara discloses that he acquired this
profound knowledge from Goddess Parvati, the divine consort of Mahadeva Shiva,
emphasizing the need for secrecy but permitting transmission to deserving
disciples. The Upanishad posits Brahman as omnipresent, likening its pervasion
to fire in fuel or oil in seeds, asserting that understanding this essence
enables one to transcend death.
The subsequent discourse details the technique of elevating
pranavayu, the vital air, from the muladhara (the lowest of the six cakras) to
the sahasrara near the brahmarandhra. Here, the yogi beholds Paramatman, the
Supreme Self, radiant as millions of suns. The Upanishad then expounds on the
entry of the jivatman, the individual soul, into the various petals of the
'heart-lotus' (hrtpadma), elucidating the ensuing outcomes.
Continuing, the text provides guidance on the japa (chanting) of the ajapa-hamsa-mantra ("so'ham hamsah") with specific instructions on integrating it with every breath, totaling 21,600 breaths within a day. The resulting mystical experiences encompass various sounds, reminiscent of a bell, conch, lute, and cymbals, each carrying distinct consequences outlined in the subsequent section.
The Hamsa Upanishad concludes by highlighting the ultimate outcome of Brahman knowledge: the dissolution of the mind and the radiant manifestation in the glory of that Brahman.