麻豆社

Good morning.

鈥淭he Queen is dead, long live the King鈥�. That single phrase often added after the formal proclamation encapsulates the manner in which we鈥檝e seen the transition from one monarch to another. From the new words of the national anthem to Queen鈥檚 Counsel becoming King鈥檚 Counsel, the changes during this time of national mourning have been unmistakable and immediate. And yet, there鈥檚 been a distinct thread of continuity running through each of these profound changes to our national life.

It's reminded me of the manner in which transitions of Guruship took place within the Sikh faith. There have been 11 Sikh Gurus, ten of whom were human and the final being the Sikh scriptures, the Guru Granth Sahib. When the Guru knew that their end was near, they would appoint their successor at a small gathering of disciples, and the traditions and customs for the proclamation of the new Guru were taken from the investitures of royalty in India at that time.

A coconut would be presented at the feet of the new Guru as a symbol of sacrifice, and five paisa or coins placed before them to reflect worldly wealth. A tilak or mark would be smeared on their forehead, a sign of welcome and distinction as well as symbolising the spiritual accension of Guruship. At the end of the ceremony, the older Guru, if able to, would show their respects to the new.

But there was another aspect to this transition. All of the Gurus were said to have had the immortal light of the first, Guru Nanak, transfer to them. They now truly embodied the faith, the teachings of the original Guru and all others who followed them. They were not just a Sikh Guru, but the definitive Guru, and they would come to be referred to as the Fourth Nanak or Eighth Nanak, for example.

Continuity was key. The medieval world was a place of immense turmoil, and the death of a leader would more often than not lead to political and social instability. If the transition was smooth, so was the impact on wider society. It also gave a sense of clarity of purpose. Even when there were pretenders to the Guru鈥檚 throne, the process of bestowing the Guruship to a named successor helped to keep the Sikh faith united during good times and bad, and to this day, the scriptural Guru remains the leader of our faith with its own throne in every Gurdwara around the world.

The rituals may seem archaic, but the importance is clear. Continuity is settling and reassuring, especially during times of great change. It stabilises and strengthens our collective identity even when the symbols, ciphers and shorthand around us transform into something unfamiliar or strange. Our country may be very different from a week ago, and yet, comfortingly, it is still the same.

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