“Role of “sacredscapes” in Indian culture The key is a small thing, really, but its power is great. The key is genius loci. To every place, there is a key – direct communication with the inherent meanings and messages of the place. When the key is lost, the place is forgotten. Mythologies, folk tales, continuity of cultural traditions, the quest to understand what is beyond – all are the facets of crossings. In Indian culture the crossings are the tirthas (‘sacredscapes’) where one transforms oneself from the physical to metaphysical. To cross is to be transformed. On the ladder to cross from one side – physical – to the other end – metaphysical – the sacred places serve as rungs. The setting of the proper ladder relies on a secret principle – that the vertical can be attained only by strict attention to the horizontal. The ladder provides the way of ascent through care and deeper quest. A spiritual walk is the ladder, sacred ways are the steps, and human understanding is the destination.” SpiritTransformationVaranasiSacred Landscapes Author:Singh, R. P. B.