When words fail, sound remains: the Akaal Mantra after sudden loss

When an unexpected loss occurs, life can feel as though it suddenly pauses. Time seems suspended, and letting go of someone we love can feel impossible. In those moments, we often find ourselves holding on — to memories, to words left unsaid, to the shock of how quickly everything changed.

The Akaal mantra, used in Kundalini Yoga and Sikh traditions, is often chanted around the time of death and in the days that follow. Its purpose is not to explain loss, but to support people through it. The mantra focuses on the idea of “Akaal,” meaning timeless or beyond death, which can be comforting when everything feels fragile and uncertain.

Akaal. 'A' means without. 'Kaal' means time. 'Akaal', timeless or undying.

Chanting Akaal can create a sense of calm and steadiness during grief. It offers a space to breathe, reflect, and gently process what has happened. For those who are mourning, the practice can help ease feelings of shock, attachment, or unfinished emotion, while reminding us that love, connection, and meaning do not disappear even when a life ends.

Whether understood spiritually or simply as a grounding ritual, chanting Akaal can be a way to honour the person who has passed and to support those who remain offering comfort, presence, and a sense of continuity during a time of profound change.

The Akaal mantra, used in Kundalini Yoga and Sikh traditions also helps guiding the soul of the deceased person to its next realm. Chanted at the time of death and for up to 17 days after, it helps our loved one's soul to transition from the earthly plane to the ethers. When a person dies either suddenly, before their expected time or violently, they may leave behind attachments. Chanting the mantra offers peace to those left behind, reminding them of the soul's eternal, timeless/undying nature and allows the soul to move on without getting stuck in the atmosphere of earth.

The practise:

• Sit in a comfortable position. Bring your hands on your heart or in Anjali mudra 🙏 (palms together in front of the heart, thumbs gentle touching the sternum)

• Bring your loved one, or the person you are chanting for, into your awareness

• Send them love and guidance for their soul passing into the next realm with ease and peace

• How many times should we chant the mantra? 11 times or 11 minutes daily

• For how long should we chant the mantra? up to 3 - 17 days daily after death

Suggested songs for meditation on Akaal: Snatam Kaur - Akaal (Meditation version) - 12 minutes or just chant on your own.

Sat nam

Kirti Jasdev Kaur