From the earliest moments of human history, music and chanting have accompanied life’s most profound transitions. Across cultures, the power of sound has long been harnessed to mark birth, guide the living, and honour the dead. Whether in the steady rhythm of drums, the resonance of voices lifted in unison, or the deep vibration of sacred instruments, sound has the ability to transcend language and create a bridge between the earthly and the divine. In death rituals, music and chanting do more than provide comfort – they guide souls, create sacred space, and remind those left behind that the journey is not yet over.

In Varanasi, where life and death are inseparably entwined, sound is ever-present. I remember sitting along the ghats at dusk, watching the flicker of funeral pyres as distant voices floated through the air. Bells rang softly in the distance, and every so often, the deep, resonant call of a conch shell broke through the stillness. In the face of death, these sounds felt less like a farewell and more like a call home – an audible reminder that something beyond the visible world was stirring.

The Role of Music and Chanting in Death Rituals

Since time immemorial, music and chanting have been integral to marking life’s most profound transitions. Across cultures, sound is not merely an expression of emotion- it is a force that shapes how we move through birth, death, and everything that lies between. In the context of death rituals, music and chanting are believed to guide the soul, protect the living, and bridge the gap between the physical world and the spiritual realm. These sounds possess a power that words alone cannot convey, they touch something deep, something primal that goes beyond intellect and reason.

In Varanasi, a city where life and death continuously intertwine on the banks of the sacred Ganges River, sound is a constant presence. The clang of temple bells, the soft hum of mantras, and the rhythmic beat of drums form a living soundtrack to daily life and death. I recall sitting quietly at Manikarnika Ghat, the cremation ground, where funeral pyres burn night and day, and hearing the soft, repetitive chants of mourners blending with the crackling of the flames. The chants were punctuated by the occasional rise of a priest’s voice, steady and deliberate as if it were guiding the departing soul across an unseen threshold. In those moments, sound became a thread, connecting the living to the dead- a poignant reminder that death is not an end, but a passage from one state to another.

The Power of Sound in Hindu Death Rituals

In Hinduism, sound is revered as a sacred force that shapes and sustains the universe. This belief is woven deeply into death rituals, where chanting and music are thought to ease the soul’s journey from the physical world to the spiritual one. Sacred mantras, particularly verses from the Bhagavad Gita and Shiva Stotras, are recited during cremation ceremonies to guide the deceased and offer spiritual protection. These chants are believed to purify the atmosphere, calm the wandering soul, and help it release from the cycle of samsara- the endless cycle of birth, death, and rebirth.

One afternoon, as I sat along the banks of the Ganges, I witnessed a cremation. A priest stood beside the pyre, reciting the Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra- a powerful chant invoking Shiva, the god of destruction and transformation. His voice rose and fell, steady and rhythmic, in a way that seemed to synchronise with the flow of the river itself. The family gathered around the fire and listened intently, each repetition of the mantra offering comfort, spiritual guidance, and hope. The chant was not just a ritual for the deceased; it was also a balm for the living. In the midst of their grief, it was a reminder that their loved one would not travel the path of death alone. The repetition of these mantras also serves to support the family as they process their grief and hold onto the belief that something much larger than their individual lives is at work.

The belief in the power of sound continues beyond the cremation. For days after, families often return to the ghat, where they perform additional prayers and mantras to assist the soul’s transition. These sounds are not merely symbolic or ornamental- they are seen as active forces that shape the soul’s journey, ensuring it moves peacefully toward liberation.

Funeral Songs and Hymns

Music and song hold a significant place in Hindu death rituals. Traditional funeral hymns, such as the Antim Satyana (the final hymn), are performed to honour the deceased and invoke divine blessings for a safe journey. These songs are not only offerings for the departed; they also provide a sense of solace to the living. Through the act of singing, the inexpressible weight of loss is given shape. There is something deeply cathartic about music in these moments, a shared expression of grief that transcends language.

I remember standing at a small cremation ground one evening, where a group of mourners had gathered around a fresh pyre. As the flames consumed the body, they began to sing—a simple, steady melody that hung in the air. I didn’t know the words, yet the feelings conveyed were unmistakable- love, sorrow, and a deep hope that the song would guide their loved one on the next leg of their journey. The music filled the space, connecting the mourners not only with the soul of the departed but also with one another in their shared experience of grief.

These funeral songs have been passed down through generations, preserving not just musical traditions but also cultural understandings of life and death. The melodies often echo themes of impermanence and transcendence, reminding those left behind that death is not a finality but part of a much larger spiritual journey. It is through these songs that the living maintain their connection to the deceased, reinforcing the belief that the soul continues beyond the physical world.

The Role of the Priest

The presence of a priest during Hindu death rituals is considered vital. Acting as both guide and intermediary, the priest leads the family through a series of chants and ceremonies designed to ensure the soul’s safe passage. Each mantra serves a specific purpose- whether to protect the deceased from malevolent forces, to create a sacred boundary around the body, or to help the soul detach from earthly attachments. These rituals are not simply ceremonial; they are seen as active, transformative acts that provide spiritual support to both the living and the dead.

I watched a young priest at Manikarnika Ghat, his saffron robes fluttering in the hot breeze as he chanted over a burning pyre. Despite the hustle and bustle around him with the vendors selling flowers, children playing by the river, and other families preparing their deceased for cremation, his voice remained unwavering. His chants seemed to hold an almost tangible gravity, as though they were the only anchor in the midst of the chaotic world. Even as life continued around him, the ritual held space for death, a reminder that the sacred and the mundane are inextricably intertwined.

The priest’s role does not end when the flames die down. In the days following the cremation, the family often returns to the ghat to perform additional rites under the priest’s guidance. These rituals, accompanied by ongoing chanting, are meant to support the soul’s continued journey and prevent it from becoming stuck in the liminal spaces between life and death. The priest’s work, therefore, is both a guide to the deceased and a source of solace to the living, ensuring that the sacred process of death continues uninterrupted.

The Sacred Sound of the Conch

One of the most distinctive sounds during Hindu death rituals is the blowing of the conch shell, known as the shankha. This ancient instrument holds immense spiritual power. In the context of death, the sound of the conch is said to purify the air, dispel negative energies, and create a sacred environment for the soul’s release. It is a symbol of auspiciousness and a call to attention, marking the transition of the soul from the physical world to the spiritual.

I have collected more than a few conch shells during my travels in India- heavy, smooth spirals that seem to hum with history. However, try as I might, I have never been able to make a proper sound out of them. What seems like a simple, effortless action when performed by a priest always results in a noise more akin to a deflating tyre. It is humbling, really- a reminder that the rituals I witness are not as simple as they might appear.

When the conch is blown during a cremation, its sound resonates like a signal- a call to attention for both the living and the dead. It marks the soul’s departure from the physical realm, guiding it on its path toward liberation. Beyond its ritual function, the sound of the conch carries a sense of timelessness, reminding those present that these practices stretch far beyond any single life or death. The conch’s resonant sound serves as a connection to an ancient spiritual lineage that transcends time and place.

Music in the Ganga Aarti

At sunset, as the day fades over the Ganges, the Ganga Aarti ceremony transforms the river’s edge into a spectacular sensory and spiritual experience. The air fills with the sound of bells, drums, and the rhythmic chanting of Sanskrit hymns as priests perform a choreographed ritual to honour the goddess Ganga. It is both a celebration of life and a solemn recognition of death’s omnipresence.

I stood in the crowd one evening, the heavy scent of incense filling the air, as the ceremony began. The music swelled, drums beating in time with the flicker of flaming lamps. The sounds were not just performance, they were a prayer in motion. As the priests moved through their ritual, the chants seemed to extend across the water, perhaps even reaching the spirits whose ashes had already been scattered there. It felt as though the very river was alive with the souls of the departed, each wave a reminder of the eternal flow of life and death.

The Ganga Aarti is not merely an act of devotion- it is a reminder of the eternal relationship between life and death. The smoke rising, the flicker of the flames, and the echo of ancient songs all come together where the boundaries between the seen and unseen blur. In the rising sound, the living and the dead are united, and the cycle of life and death is honoured with reverence and grace.

The Eternal Language of Sound

Across every culture I’ve encountered, sound is central to how we face death. Music and chanting offer more than mere comfort- they create a pathway for the soul and a way for the living to remain connected to those who have gone. In Varanasi, where death is neither hidden nor feared, these sounds pulse through every stage of the journey, reminding us that even as life ends, something ancient and unbroken continues. Sound is a sacred language- one that speaks directly to the soul, unmediated by intellect, and offers a direct connection to the mysteries of life, death, and the beyond.

So let it be known. When I die, I want music and sound, and lots of it!