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The rights of the different varnas pertaining to vedic rituals and listening to vedas are listed below:
- Brahmins can study vedas as well as teach them. They can perform mantrika yajnas for themselves and get it done for others. They can take and receive daan (offerings).
- Kshatriyas can study vedas but not teach. They can only do mantrika yajna for themselves. Can only give daan.
- Vaishyas can study vedas but not teach them. They can only do mantrika yajna for themselves. Can only give daan.
The above three varnas are authourized in mantrika Shrout-Smarta yajnas. The sacred thread or yajnopavit is needed for this. Women who are born in these varnas do not have these requirements. They may participate in the yajnas only with their husbands who have sacred thread. They have the right to listen to veda mantras during the time of the rituals and with their presence along with husbands, the rituals are considered successful.
Shudras and women (other than when they are participating in rituals as belonging to dwija families) are not authorized in study or vedas. They can perform amantrika yajna (where vedic mantras are not used).
All are not allowed to even listen to the shrutis (Vedas, Upanishads, Brahmasutras). Puranas can be heard by all but the paath or recitation of Bhagavadgita and Puranas must not be done by all. The fruit of this can be gained by listening alone by those who do not have the authority to chant. Since all types of people come in satsangs so the Gurus have to be careful of not reciting full mantras or offer complete detailing to honour the shastric guidance.
This is not injustice, but this is for each one’s own welfare and the welfare of all. We must pay careful attention to what is to be followed and not followed, both. Our faith needs to be complete in the shastras.
Are non-dvijas and women deprived of vedic wisdom?
Reading the above you may think that the non-dvijas and women do not gain any knowledge of the vedas. This is inaccurate since the kathas of the puranas and itihasas contain the rich essence of the teachings of the vedas. To state an example, a traditional Hindu barber (nai), all across the country has detailed knowledge on the auspicious and inauspicious tithis for the hair to be tonsured. They also know which varnas need to do the ritual on what day, post death in the family, etc. At times, they even know more about the detailed procedures of such rituals than the pandits who are present. This is all vedic knowledge they have through the ancient tradition. To say it is non-vedic is wrong.
Similarly, it is the women of the family who traditionally take their children to listen to discourses or kathas of the puranas. Sanatana values that are derived from the vedas were passed on to the children in this method. The secrets of the vedas are contained in the Puranas. Veda Vyasaji made profound vedic wisdom available to us through kathas or stories of the Puranas. Thus, it is to be noted that no varna or gender is prevented from learning. The methods prescribed vary alone. No one is deprived of the fruit either.
Here you can read about the reasons for various restrictions and rules given in shastras.