Kneeling is a human position in which the weight is distributed on the knees and feet on a surface close to horizontal. Human position refers to a position of a human body. ... For other uses, see Knee (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Foot (disambiguation). ...

The position of kneeling may be assumed for practical reasons and for reasons of social or religious custom. This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

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 gardener Gardening is the practice of growing flowering plants, vegetables, and fruits. ... Figure 1. ...

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. An ambush is a long established military tactic in which an ambushing force uses concealment to attack an enemy that passes its position. ... This article is about sitting in its general sense. ... A woman in seiza, on tatami, performing a Japanese tea ceremony Seiza (正座, literally correct sitting) is the traditional formal way of sitting in Japan. ...

Kneeling position also provides more stability due to lower center of gravity. This article or section may contain original research or unverified claims. ...

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. Look up disability in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

It is also helpful in playing with children.

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). This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Submission can refer to: An object to hand in A proposal for a presentation at an academic conference Domination and submission, where it is opposite in meaning to dominance. ... A salute is a gesture or other action used to indicate respect. ... Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Luther Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Pope · Archbishop of Canterbury Patriarch of Constantinople Christianity Portal This box:      A Christian () is a person who... There is also a collection of Hadith called Sahih Muslim A Muslim (Arabic: مسلم, Persian: Mosalman or Mosalmon Urdu: مسلمان, Turkish: Müslüman, Albanian: Mysliman, Bosnian: Musliman) is an adherent of the religion of Islam. ... Mary Magdalene in prayer. ... Hinduism (known as in modern Indian languages[1]) is a religious tradition[2] that originated in the Indian subcontinent. ...

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. It has been suggested that Ecclesia (Church) be merged into this article or section. ... Pews in rows in a church. ... Kneeler is a piece of furniture used for resting in a kneeling position. ... This refers to the Roman Catholic practice. ... Look up Altar in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... In Christian belief and practice, a sacrament is a rite that mediates divine grace, constituting a sacred mystery. ...

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. The Roman Catholic Church, most often spoken of simply as the Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with over one billion members. ... Armenian king Tigranes the Great. ... Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Wycliffe Tyndale · Luther · Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Pope · Archbishop of Canterbury Patriarch of Constantinople Christianity Portal This box:      The Pope (from Latin... Diocesan College, or Bishops as it is commonly known, is a private school situated in the leafy suburb of Rondebosch in Cape Town, South Africa, at the foot of Table Mountain. ... For other uses, see Eucharist (disambiguation). ... The Tabernacle is known in Hebrew as the Mishkan ( משכן Place of [Divine] dwelling). It was to be a portable central place of worship for the Hebrews from the time they left ancient Egypt following the Exodus, through the time of the Book of Judges when they were engaged in conquering...

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 consecrating bishops read the prayer. Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Luther Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Pope · Archbishop of Canterbury Patriarch of Constantinople Christianity Portal This box:      The Eastern Orthodox Church (including Greek... Ordination is the process in which clergy become authorized by their religious denomination and/or seminary to perform religious rituals and ceremonies. ... Deacon is a role in the Christian Church which is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions. ... Look up Altar in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... In general religious use, ordination is the process by which one is consecrated (set apart for the undivided administration of various religious rites). ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Luther Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Pope · Archbishop of Canterbury Patriarch of Constantinople Christianity Portal This box:      This article is about a title... A Gospel Book is a codex or bound volume, containing one or more of the four Gospels of the Christian New Testament. ... To consecrate an inanimate object is to dedicate it in a ritual to a special purpose, usually religious. ...

See also

• Kowtow
• posture
• obeisance
• genuflexion
• prostration
• kneeling chair
• prayer mat
• crawling (locomotion)

Kowtowing Kowtow, from the Chinese term kòu tóu (Cantonese: kau tàuh) (叩頭), is the act of deep respect shown by kneeling and bowing so low as to touch the head to the ground. ... While not moving, a human can be in one of the following main positions. ... A salute is a gesture or other action used to indicate respect. ... Look up Genuflection in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Prostration can mean either: the placement of the body in a reverentially or submissively prone position (for instance, as part of religious or spiritual observance); or, physical or mental exhaustion (for instance, as part of a medical condition). ... A kneeling chair is a type of chair for sitting in a position with the thighs dropped to an angle of about 60 to 70 degrees from vertical (as opposed to 90 degrees when sitting in a normal chair). ... Typical manufactured prayer mat showing the Kaaba A prayer mat or prayer rug, (in Arabic, سجادة sajada (plural sajjad) or musallah, in Persian: جانماز Janamaz), is a piece of fabric (often decorated) used by Muslims during their five daily prayers (Salat). ... This page is a candidate to be copied to Wiktionary. ...

External links

• The Theology of Kneeling
• Catholic Encyclopedia entry on kneeling