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In shiva gita, there is a sloka explictly stating that the vedas are to be read only after the vratabandha/upanayana , sorry I couldn't find the exact sloka to quote but, I remember very clearly that Lord Shiva explicitly and very clearly mentions this.

So, by vedas, did lord shiva mean only the Rig, yajur, sama, atharva , or everything including the derivatives like the scriptures, geetas, upanishads, purans etc? Because their origins are the vedas in turn. Any insight or slokas clarifying this?

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  • "vedas are to be read only after the vratabandha" -- Can you say what is vratabandha? – Rickross Jul 31 at 12:08
  • I wouldn't have a word to describe it, probably known by different names, but you sortof get bald, and different pujas/rituals done. And your karma is said to start from that day. – juztcode Jul 31 at 14:03
  • Ok I understand .. you must be talking about Upanayana/initiation. And it is true that Vedas should be read only after Upanayana. – Rickross Jul 31 at 16:52
  • @Rickross , and could you please tell me about the second part of the question.. – juztcode Jul 31 at 18:28
  • I have answered. 1. Lord Shiva does not mean scriptures like Puranas when he says Vedas. 2. Whether Upanishads are part of Vedas or not -- traditionally considered but there are some arguments against it. 3. Vyasa Smriti regards Upanayana as the requirement for reading even Smritis and Puranas. – Rickross Aug 1 at 11:30
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Brahmanas, Kshatriyas, and Vaishyas are called the twice-born. Their first births take place when they are delivered of their mother's womb ; their second, when they duly accept the Gayatri Mantra from their preceptors (21).

Thus made twice-born, and free from all other faults, they become entitled to study the Vedas, Smritis and Puranas (22).

Vyasa Smriti verses


Verse 21 says that Upanayana (where one duly accepts the Gayatri mantra from their preceptors) is like the 2nd birth for the twice-born persons.

And, verse 22 says that only after Upanyana a twice-born becomes qualified to read not only the Vedas but also the Smritis and the Puranas.


So, by vedas, did lord shiva mean only the Rig, yajur, sama, atharva , or everything including the derivatives like the scriptures, geetas, upanishads, purans etc?


By Vedas, Puranas, Gitas are not meant. Vedas primarily mean Vedic Samhitas. Some people say that Samhitas+Brahmanas=Vedas. Some other says that Upnaishad and Aranayakas are also part of Vedas.

But, regardless of such difference of opinions, Gitas and Puranas are not part of Vedas. But, still the Vyasa Smriti is stating that Upanayana is the purificatory ritual that makes one qualified to read the scriptures like Gita and Puranas.

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  • so females are given freedom to read them by birth! They don't have upanayanas, right? – juztcode Aug 1 at 11:29
  • Haha no ... according to the Smritis and Puranas the women are not allowed to read Vedas. But probably they were allowed in ancient times. @juztcode – Rickross Aug 1 at 11:32
  • can you quote from the smritis, with the specifics, that women are not allowed to read them? And any insight on why they were allowed? – juztcode Aug 1 at 12:12
  • Bhagwad mahapuran is particularly a devotion path principled, isn't it? Probably not bound by rules of the vyasa smriti? – juztcode Aug 1 at 12:19
  • You can read Bhagavata Purana. Don't get discouraged by my answer. Probably there are verses in that Purana that state that for women and others (who are not allowed Upanayana) the Puranas were created @juztcode – Rickross Aug 1 at 12:31

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