There are two concerns regarding the thesis you are presenting. One pertains to the idea of veda rakshanam, which is divided into those performing veda parayanam/rakshanam and others ensuring that those engaged in the parayanam are well supported. Your second point is that women, while assisting their husbands with complex rituals and what you term veda rakshanam, also participate in events like sumangali vratham for themselves. Please let me know if I have misunderstood your thesis.
I have reservations about both points, and I would like to explain further.
Hinduism represents a way of life, view of life and a perspective on existence. The Vedas express this way of life and viewpoint. There is no notion of some individuals engaging in veda rakshanam while others support them, as the Vedas hold no significance without practical application in daily life. One Mahatma likened the Vedas to a vast supermarket, where you go to obtain what you need. Much of it consists of kamya karmas, which even include rituals aimed at vanquishing enemies. The true method of protection lies in adhering to the principles of living, as the Vedas are intrinsically linked to life itself.
Today's puja Vidhi and even shraddha Vidhi are based on ancient descriptions, such as the story of the Kathopanishad, where Lord Yama interacted with Nachiketas. This tradition is thousands of years old. Systems that endure the test of time possess inherent self-correction and resilience. Only in the face of physical and external threats is there a need for a kshatriya class (varna, not caste). Yagna, danam, and Tapas are integral to living according to Vedic teachings and principles. There are no distinct groups tasked with protecting one another; all are part of a unified system.
Any system that attempts to adopt a dual approach—one for the system and another for its protection—will ultimately decline. Many matams are becoming irrelevant because, in the name of safeguarding the Vedas, they are merely protecting their own systems and egos.
Women have not been relegated to supportive roles in rituals; they are equal partners. While their roles may differ, they complement one another. During Shraddham, which is not conducted for veda rakshanam but for a different purpose, my mother would rise at 4 am to prepare all the food. Although women's roles in rituals may be fewer, collectively, they contribute to a unified effort. Thus, women do not require a separate ritual for themselves.
Worshipping sumangalis is commendable, provided that superstitious beliefs do not demean widows.
Therefore, the true protection of the Vedas comes from dispelling ignorance.
The best way for any of us to safeguard this knowledge is to thoroughly comprehend what is being done and why. We should strive for a holistic understanding, which is available to everyone. If I can make some progress in a decade, so can anyone; I was once entirely uninformed.
However, the culture tends to be anti-learning and resists understanding the significance in detail. Superstition and unfounded beliefs have taken precedence, posing a genuine threat to what is referred to as sanatana dharma. What is deemed eternal dharma is largely rooted in ignorance, and it is disheartening that there is a reluctance to appreciate the depth of the Hindu dharma system.
There are many puranic stories lacking any significance that have really done a lasting damage to Hinduism. Also there are mischievous interpolations and extrapolations to many of our scriptures that have done enormous damage to the whole sanatana dharma. For example, Valmiki Ramayana has many flawed interpolations according to experts, and the entirety of uttara kanda is a flawed extrapolations. The manu smruthi itself is corrupted There is supposed to be a parent text called Manu samhita that is lost over annals of time and it is known only by reference to it is by Adi Sankara. So veda rakshanam for any of us is to get the lofty vision of vedas as a whole, identify all the wrong notions and reject superstitions. Much of the origin for all these wrong ideas goes to the biblical religions though Jesus himself taught the essence of Advita vedanata!
