Beauty and the Beast

40.

Narayana was easily achievable with love. Her father's extensive ritualism wasn't easily available to everyone. But Narayana was beyond all of it. He was the sun's light which spread heat and light indiscriminately over the earth. 

Even if the ritual part of Veda wasn't available to everyone, Vedanta was for everyone. Simhavalli knew him not through rituals but through Vedanta. 

Where would the little demon child Prahlada find the way to perform extensive rituals to call on Hari? But Narasimha appeared out of a pillar to protect his devotee. The extensive roaring and fearful form didn't scare the little boy even a little bit. 

While Srutiyasha went to the forest to find firewood for his agnihotra, Simhavalli followed along to find sandalwood sticks. 

"Why are you being so stubborn, Valli? You are only going to stress yourself finding sandalwood for him here in this forest." 

"You go, father, I will come after finding sandalwood. I know my Hari will be pleased with my devotion enough without any rituals. Love surpasses every ritual that Veda can dictate." 

He sighed at her silliness but didn't return alone. He couldn't leave her alone in the forest where wild animals could harm her. 

"Don't be silly. The forest has wild animals and they can harm."

Simhavalli chuckled, "What animal can harm me who has surrendered to the half-animal half-man? He is the lord of all creatures. Why fear anyone in his kingdom?" 

Her logic didn't stand in his mind. She was being silly. 

She softly sang a sweet song about the miracles of Hari while she looked for sandalwood sticks. 

Narasimha's lion ears suddenly perked up hearing the sweet voice singing about him. It especially seemed to be coming from his heart. The love that he felt emerge out of the beautiful song captured him from so far away.

Srutiyasha kept on with her in the search for sandalwood.

'This is complete nonsense from her. I am trying to rationalize with a child. She knows nothing but being stubborn. Where will she find sandalwood in these forests? There are never any sandalwood trees here.' He sighed and caught Simhavalli's hand.

"Valli, let us go back home. Please. For my sake. We will never find sandalwood in this forests. Sandalwood doesn't grow here at all." Srutiyasha tried to convince. He almost begged her to return with him. His love for his little girl surpassed his annoyance at her refusing to believe the supremacy of karma kanda. He held her little chin trying to convince her.

"Appa, I am firm in my believe. Nothing can resolve him but love."

Srutiyasha hung the bag of firewood on his back and picked her up. "That's enough. I've tried to be nice and now you've become so adamant." 

"Appa!!!" She protested at being manhandled by her father.

"Shshh. Stay silent, Valli. You're getting too adamant because I'm so lenient towards you." 

"Narasimha!!!!" She shrieked loudly in protest. 

"What? You want him to sudden appear here and take you out on a stroll to find sandalwood? Don't be silly. He has much more to do than play with a little child."

"That is pretty much what he is for. If his dharma isn't to reach out his devotees when they call for him, I don't know why he would bother with a form at all."

"His form is omkara. That pranava is Veda. That Veda is supreme."

"That is like saying my brain is supreme over my heart. Can there be anything more silly than that?"