Praying Hands

[Hypnopuppy]

What is the origin for people holding their hands together to pray ?

[Quizmonster]

Possibly in the sense that they are pointing towards 'heaven' and thus directing the words of the prayer towards one's god or God. In the same way, burnt sacrifices - or in modern times, incense - used to be offered on the basis that the smoke would climb up into the sky in the same way...and to the same end.

[Hypnopuppy]

thanks Quizmonster - I was wondering if there was anytthing in the fact that it showed that you had nothing in your hands or even as extreme as offering your hands up in submission ??

[Cetti]

This is only a thought, but perhaps the 15th century artist Albrecht Durer might have played a part with his beautiful image entitled "Praying Hands".

 

In the Bible,  and also in Ancient Greece prayer was lying on the ground, kneeling, standing up - all over the place..... but  the arms were always outstretched or lifted up with open palms, as in submission or supplication.

 In the pentacostal/evangelical churches today this is still the most widely seen prayer posture. QM's thought of 'pointing heavenward' makes perfect sense, but from what I can remember the 'hands together' is used more by  little ones than by adults. 

[Hypnopuppy]

Cetti
Thank you for your response - interesting thought as alot of religious Icons have had a major influence - take the images of Christ for example. I confess to not being up to speed on my religions but don't Eastern religions tend to greet people with hands together - so maybe not just a Sunday School activity for children - all fascinating stuff - thanks again for the thoughts

[Ewood27]

In the Middle Ages, if you swore fealty to someone, you offered your hands together in the "prayer" position, and your new overlord clasped them in his two hands as you swore your oath of allegiance.  I'm not suggesting the Church adopted this pose - indeed I'm pretty sure that quite early Christian tombs show the hands together - but the idea of swearing obedience with this gesture seems to be a very old one.

[Litchick]

Also, in Hinduism (or just plain yoga!) the open palms symbolise giving and receiving.

[Hypnopuppy]

The more I think about it , and from the comments made, I tend to think it is definately a sign of submission - hands together can do no harm to anyone and offering them to someone in this manner is certainly a sign of subservience. Now whether its done out of fear or respect is another question ...... :-)

[Quizmonster]

To return briefly to my original point above, hands held in the standard western prayer-position are said to be 'steepled'. Normal steeples - often with a spire attached to accentuate the point - were initially incorporated in church buildings for much the same purpose. That is, to symbolise the upward-striving, pointing-to-heaven element of the congregation's devotions.

Surely this hand-position is the exact opposite of revealing open palms. Rather, it suggests something enclosed and specifically directed.

[Hypnopuppy]

Quizmonster - I agree, the open plams approach is an exact opposite - maybe signifying the difference between submission/fear and giving/loving ??

[Cetti]

In  numerous paintings ( and on gravestones) angels are portrayed with heads bent and hands together. Truly an act of reverence and submission, but the praying hands  posture depends entirely on the artist, church, religion or just down to the individual. Personally, I still love Durer's image - very powerful.

 

Isn't the Japanese greeting also  one of head bowed and hands together?

[conch5184]

In body language, when someone puts their hands together while communicating it's usually in the context of bringing things or people together, (while talking about co-operation, etc.). It's a sign that you are oriented toward togetherness, co-operation, unity, harmony.