It is a fortune to have the eligibility to study the Vedas. The virtue of past births plays a great role in providing such worthiness. After attaining such entitlement, one must follow certain rules and precautions.
The student must concentrate solely on the Vedas. He should not engage in other activities. He should perform sandhyavandanam three times a day, and the brahmayajna and agni rites without any deviation. He should not eat food that is prepared outside. In the past, our ancestors followed the practice of bhikshatana, in which they begged ingredients from different households and cooked food for themselves. They used to eat only such food. However, this is not possible, in the present age. For this reason, the student must follow certain food related rules and conditions.
The student must not treat the Vedabhyasa as mere education. He should experience it as a tapas and an opportunity provided by the Vedamata to him. The study of Veda should be done with that mental attitude. Such mental status makes it easier to master the Vedas.
The sastras state Veda meva sada japeth. That means the Vedas have to be studied like tapas. The student should not involve himself in other activities till he completes the study. He should join a gurukula and live there. His parents should not assign any work to him, and his entire concentration should be limited to the study of the Vedas.
The minimum age to study the Vedas is 10 years, and the parents of a child should send the child for Veda education, when the age of ten years have been reached. The student will complete half of the Vedic education by the age of seventeen years, provided he does not indulge in any other activity during that period. Parents should not take their child home during the period of education. Such deviations would affect his concentration.
In the beginning, the child studies the Vedas at the behest of the teachers or parents. However, after he proceeds with his education, he will acquire interest in the Vedas, as he realises the greatness and grandeour of the Vedas.
If the student reads for ten hours a day, the education will be completed in twelve years. The ancestors of the Vedic student, i.e the previous ten generations, and the future ten generations will attain salvation, on account of the the study of the Vedas. It also absolves people of their sins and promotes them to Heaven. As such, the Veda students must follow the prescribed rules and conditions in order to receive the blessings of the Vedamata.
In the past, the Maharishis had studied the Vedas in this manner, and achieved purity of speech. Whatever they said came true, and they were respected by society. Moreover, the people abstained from causing harm to them, as they feare their mantra powers.
The students of the Vedas have to study them with devotion and commitment, and follow their swadharma. Non observance of these tenets, renders it impossible to procure benefits from the Vedas.
Protect the Vedas!
Vedic Knowledge Protects the World!