Why altars?

The word “altar” comes from the Latin altārium, meaning “high,” or a place for sacrifice to what is great. It is also related to adolere, which means to worship and to burn up or sacrifice.

You may never meditate, prostrate, or circumambulate. You may not know asana from ascii, or kriyas from Krispy Cremes. But if you have spent any time at all hanging around Hindu or Tantrik types, you have likely performed achamanam.