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veda-adhikara
On Thu, 2 May 1996, Dhruba Chakravarti wrote:
> In article <ghenDqpwy6.Hsy@netcom.com> Giri wrote:
>
> : Let me repeat again : Based on my understanding (not that it is
> : right or wrong), women or shudras are not allowed to recite vedas. Reciting
> : vedas no way reflects on whether one attains salvation or not. The path
> : to salvation is open to all, who makes an effort, irrespective of caste,
> : creed, birth, gender, nationality etc.
Sorry to prolong this thread but I seem to have not made myself clear
since there were a couple of e-mails to me asking me why I felt women
should not recite the vedas.
>
> Thank you for posting your views.
It is NOT MY view that women (and shudras) should not be allowed
to recite the vedas. Based on my understanding of dharma suutras like the
apastambha, vasistha, gautama dharma suutras, women and shudras have been
denied veda-adhikara. As to why and whether it is right or wrong is not
for me to comment.
As Vidya pointed out in his post, Shankara agrees with this in
this bhashyas of upanishhads, and I have posted earlier Shankara's views on
this subject by quoting brahma suutra bhashya. Even modern day Advaitins
like Ramana Maharshi {Ramakrishna told me this through e-mail} did not
prefer Shudras recite the vedas. As always, they are quick to point out
that the path of moksha is open to everyone.
Of course, one way is to dismiss Shankara and Ramana as
narrow-minded, as one person who sent me an e-mail did, and strain our
hands while we pat ourselves on our backs for being the most broad-minded
persons.
>
> Since there were so many women rishis who saw the verses in the Vedas,
> this position on the surface, seems strange. The chhAndogya only implies
> that people must know the meaning of a verse before saying it with OM.
> I have seen that many women do not say OM, but says namaH instead.
> In any case, this tradition is baffling.
> With best regards,
> Dhruba.
In my opinion, the tradition is not baffling when one recalls that
many ceremonial rites, as far as i know, prescribed are performed
according to the injunctions laid down by the dharma suutras. What is
however not apparent to me is why injunctions like the veda-adhikara were not
laid down in the vedas itself ?
Giri
