A Shri Vidya Math shishya (disciple or student) stands on the banks of the holy River Ganges at Kedar Ghat, Varanasi, India. - stock photo

Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India - August 7, 2019: A Shri Vidya Math shishya (disciple or student) stands on the banks of the holy River Ganges at Kedar Ghat. Shri Vidya Math is one of India’s last few gurukuls (a residential monastery following the education system from ancient India) which teaches the Vedas (a large body of religious texts) through the authentic practices of the ancient world. It follows the guru-shishya tradition with 300 shishya (disciples or students) who have voluntarily come from different parts of India to become Veda scholars. Shishyas wear a Krishna pendant and a red Tilaka made from vermilion on the forehead. The gurukul aims to further the ancient Indian traditions of Vedic learning in a modern world. Varanasi, or Benaras, (also known as Kashi) is one of the oldest living cities in the world. The city has been India's centre of learning and civilization for over 3000 years.