Hamsa
A swan or goose motif, a bird of Indian myth, often woven in pairs on borders and the body.
Also: annam, swan, annapakshi
Hamsa is the Sanskrit word for a swan or a goose, a bird that appears in Indian myth and poetry. It is the vehicle of Brahma and of Saraswati, and it is said to be able to separate milk from water, so it stands for discernment. Weavers use it as a motif, often in pairs, in the borders and the body of silk sarees. In Tamil it is called annam. Kanchipuram sarees have a well known annam border, and the bird also appears in Banarasi and Paithani designs, and in painted and printed cloth.