Dictionary Definition
kneeling n : supporting yourself on your knees
[syn: kneel]
User Contributed Dictionary
English
Pronunciation
Verb
kneelingExtensive Definition
Kneeling is a human
position in which the weight is distributed on the knees and feet on a surface close to
horizontal.
The position of kneeling may be assumed for
practical reasons and for reasons of social or religious 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 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 Christians and Muslims, kneeling is used as a position for prayer, as a position of submission to God. In north Indian 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 churches, pews are equipped with kneelers 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 confessionals and areas in
front of an altar,
kneelers for kneeling during prayer or sacraments may also be
used.
Within Roman
Catholicism, it is traditional to kneel on the left knee for
persons of distinction (such as 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 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 consecrating bishops read
the prayer.