Haṃsasāra

The tantric text Haṃsasāra presents spiritual teachings on the natural state of primordial consciousness through deeply esoteric language and symbolism. It discusses the intricate relationship between the divine, the self, and ultimate liberation (mokṣa). The text is centred on the metaphor of the Haṃsa, the "swan": the ultimate reality traversing the cycles of existence in the form of conditioned consciousness.

Opening Verses and Prologue

The opening verses invoke blessings:

oṃ namaḥ śivāya sa śivāya śivadāya namo namaḥ

Om, Homage to Śiva, to the auspicious, to the benefactor of auspiciousness! Homage upon homage!

The text’s prologue speaks of a desire for the transmission of knowledge and the importance of spiritual realisation.

śrutaṃ deva mayā pūrvam amalaṃ haṃsayāmalam

I have heard before, O deva, the pure teaching of the swan.

yatpurā kathitaṃ deva sūcitaṃ na prakāśitam

What was spoken before, O deity, remains hidden, not revealed.

The text goes on to explain how rare and precious this knowledge is, accessible only to those who have mastered the yogic practices. It emphasises the importance of devotion to the divine for true understanding:

durlabhaṃ sarvadevānāṃ yoginīnāṃ tathaiva ca

It is difficult to attain, even by all gods and yoginīs alike.

Core Theme

The core theme of the tantra is the profound realisation of nonduality (advaya), where the ultimate truth is understood as both the absolute and the relative. The divine manifests in myriad forms but the essence of all these forms is one. The swan (haṃsa) transcends all these forms to reach the highest state.

The text also delves into the practices that lead to realisation, mentioning the necessity of proper guidance and the wisdom of the guru:

guruḥ śivagato jñeyaḥ śivo gurumukhodgataḥ

The guru should be understood as merged in Śiva, while Śiva arises from the mouth of the guru.

The Guru's Grace

The centrality of the guru in the tantric path is evident: without the guru’s grace and teachings, true liberation is unattainable. The necessity of spiritual practice and the guidance of a realised teacher are described.

The Swan: Symbol of the Liberated Mind

As the text progresses, it uses vivid imagery to describe the experience of liberation. The swan is symbolic of the liberated mind, soaring freely without attachment to the cycles of birth and death. Liberation means the dissolution of the egoic identity and reaching supreme knowledge and bliss. This marks the mind’s return to its original, pure state, beyond the distractions and illusions of the material world.

The Nature of Time and the Power of Meditation

The text also provides insights into the nature of time (kāla) and the power of meditation. The understanding of time is linked with the cycles of the cosmos and the life of a yogī:

na kālaṃ kalayeccātra na ca sāvyādhireva ca

One should not mark time here, nor is there aging or illness.