Nepal Maharishi Foundation for Vedic Culture 6 INTRODUCTION UNESCO RECOGNITION FOR THE VEDIC TRADITION N epal, the land of the Himalayas, is home to a unique and timeless cultural tradition— the Vedic Tradition. This notable Vedic cultural heritage has been recognized by UNESCO in its 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Herit- age, which declared the Vedas and its oral tradition of recitation as among the first “MASTER- PIECES OF ORAL AND INTANGIBLE HERITAGE OF MANKIND,” to be preserved for the benefit of mankind. Gurukul students learning Vedic Recitation