Kneeling
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2008-06-14T06:26:10Z
Danicools
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{{Wiktionary|kneel}}[[Image:Red tunic gold helmet bangkok.jpg|thumb|Royal guard kneeling, [[Bangkok]], [[Thailand]].]]
[[Image:Soviet naval infantrymen DN-SC-91-02252.jpg|thumb|[[Naval Infantry (Russia)|Soviet naval infantrymen]] kneel with their AKS-74 rifles during a demonstration.]]
[[Image:John William Waterhouse - The Missal.JPG|thumb|''The Missal'' by [[John William Waterhouse]], showing a woman kneeling in prayer (1902, oil on canvas).]]
'''Kneeling''' is a [[human position]] in which the weight is distributed on the [[knee]]s and [[foot|feet]] on a surface close to horizontal.
The position of kneeling may be assumed for practical reasons and for reasons of social or religious [[convention (norm)|custom]].
== Practical reasons ==
Kneeling makes it easier to reach the ground. For example, during [[gardening]], kneeling gives less strain to one's back than [[bending]]. Various knee pads and knee mats are sold to make kneeling during gardening more comfortable.
A kneeled person is less visible from the distance. For example, in an [[ambush]], one may go from kneeling to [[sitting]] in a kind of [[seiza]] and back, e.g., to peek out.
Kneeling position also provides more stability due to lower [[center of gravity]].
Some other positions may serve these particular goals; the actual choice of the position is determined by other factors: mobility, effort, amount of occupied space, etc.
People with certain [[Disability|disabilities]] can move only in the kneeling position.
It is also helpful in playing with children.
Kneeling can sometimes be useful when trying to get something out of a hole.
== Social and religious customs==
Socially, kneeling, similarly to [[bowing]], is associated with [[submission]] and [[obeisance]], particularly if one kneels before a standing person: the kneeling position renders a person defenseless and unable to flee. For this reason, in some [[religions]], in particular by [[Christian]]s and [[Muslim]]s, kneeling is used as a position for [[prayer]], as a position of submission to God. In north Indian [[Hinduism|Hindu]] temples, many Hindus kneel before the icon after saying a short personal prayer, and usually touch the ground with their forehead. (This is a contrast to south Indian temples, where most people prostrate completely before the icon).
In many [[church]]es, [[pew]]s are equipped with [[kneeler]]s in front of the seating bench so members of the congregation can kneel on them instead of the floor. In a few other situations such as [[confessional]]s and areas in front of an [[altar]], kneelers for kneeling during prayer or [[sacrament]]s may also be used.
Within [[Roman Catholicism]], it is traditional to kneel on the left knee for persons of distinction (such as [[Monarch|Kings]], the [[Pope]], [[Bishops]], etc.), to kneel on the right knee for the [[Eucharist]], when it is in the [[tabernacle]], and to kneel on both knees when the Eucharist is exposed.
In the [[Eastern Orthodox Church]] the act of kneeling, in the sense of "standing on one's knees" is not traditionally performed. Instead, there are several types of [[Zemnoy poklon|bows and prostrations]] (on hands and knees with the forehead touching the ground) which accompany worship with much greater frequency than in the Western churches. However, at his [[ordination]], a [[deacon]] will kneel on one knee to the side of the [[altar]], while the bishop lays his hands on the deacon's head to read the Prayer of [[Cheirotonia]] over him. A [[priest]] will kneel in the same manner at his ordination, but on both knees; and a [[bishop]] kneels (on both knees) in front of the altar as the [[Gospel Book]] is laid over his head and the [[consecration|consecrating]] bishops read the prayer.
== See also ==
*[[Knees]]
*[[Kowtow]]
*[[posture]]
*[[obeisance]]
*[[genuflexion]]
*[[prostration]]
*[[kneeling chair]]
*[[prayer mat]]
*[[crawling (locomotion)]]
*[[Zemnoy poklon]]
*[[Bowing (social)]]
== External links ==
* [http://www.adoremus.org/1102TheologyKneel.html The Theology of Kneeling]
* [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06423a.htm Catholic Encyclopedia entry on kneeling]
[[Category:Human body positions]]