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Hamsa

World Religion
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

The sacred swan or goose, symbolizing discernment, spiritual migration, and the soul’s journey in Hindu and yogic traditions.

Detailed Definition
Hamsa in poetry is the soul that flies from illusion to truth, separating milk from water with its divine sight. Poets use it as metaphor for the meditator: not bound by the body, but drawn to the source. Its cry, “so ham” (“I am That”), becomes the internal mantra of every verse that seeks to dissolve ego and remember the Self.
Example
Example in poetry:
A yogic poem: "Hamsa flies over lake—/ separating milk from water, / truth from illusion"; A mystical verse: "My breath whispers ‘So Ham’—/ Hamsa, the swan / that is my soul"; A modern lyric: "Hamsa in city sky—/ rare, beautiful, teaching / discernment in noise"; A haiku: "White wings against blue—/ Hamsa: spirit migrates / toward light"; Another: "Hamsa isn’t bird—/ it’s the inner eye / that sees clearly"; A minimalist verse: "Fly high. See true. / Hamsa: soul / in motion."
Additional Notes
Hamsa in poetry is the soul’s flight; its “so-ham” breath-sound mirrors “I am That,” making it the audible metaphor for self-realization—poets like Sri Aurobindo use hamsa imagery to depict the soul’s migration from illusion to truth, turning migration into meditation, essential for interpreting mystical verse as journey of inner navigation.
Also Known As
Hamsa Bird Sacred Swan So-Ham
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