If we are ignorant we can easily assert anything with hearsay information and be satisfied

there are hundreds of compilations on Dharmashastras by rishis,, and it is impossible to learn everything.. so the major smrithis were shortlisted to about twenty ..

Even this was too huge material to study.. Vaidhyanatha Deekshitar, took the essence from all these texts, classified them under various heads and gave his Smruthimukthaaphalam.. the contents are in understandable Sanskrit with very valid references..

This text, also called Deekshieeyam is accepted as the standard guide for brahmin rituals in South India at least..

And every purohita, before embarking on his profession should have a working knowledge of this text..

Now the ad hoc vadhyars just memorize some parts from Vedas, and watch and learn some rituals and just start practice..

They do not learn even the texts like Ekagnikandam for Krishna Yajurvedam and equivalent texts for other Sakhaas..

It is like lawyers and advocates practicing without even the basic law books..

Fortunately all those books are available for free download from web .. and all we require is some time and some interest .

I came across some translations of Deekshiteeyam.. but the subject is so terse that no single translator can do justice..

We have to read the original text, and from there travel to the texts which are referred to .. like Vedas, Smrithis.. and then go through the commentaries and teekas to Vedas smrithis etc..

We are fortunate to have the great bhashyam for vedas by Sayana Acharya,, and Bhattabhaskara too.. all accessible in the web..

If we are ignorant we can easily assert anything with hearsay information and be satisfied .. but as far as our religious and social existence is concerned, there are enough scholars, and material too.. to have correct ideas..

It is another thing whether we will be able to practice them even to a little extent..