The Pradhanika-rahasya(supplement
to Durga-sapta-sati) explains that
Mahalakshmi was the first to appear before everything(sarvasyadya) and was of the nature of the three gunas. She was both
manifest and unmanifest. When she looked at the void (sunyam), she assumed the
form which was purely tamasa.
Mahalakshmi called her Maha-kali
(Mahamaya,duratyaya). Then Mahalakshmi assumed a second form, which was purely
sattvika; and Mahalakshmi called her Mahasaravati (Mahavidya,Mahavani,Bharati
,Vak, Saraswati, Arya, Brahmi,Kamadhenu,Veda-garbha,Dhisavari(4-16).
Mahalakshmi then directed Maha-kali and Maha-sarasvati to
create pairs according to their own gunas(tamas and sattva respectively). And
she herself created the pair,one male and the other female; and she called them
Brahma (Vidhi,Virinchi,Dhata) and Lakshmi (Sri Padma,Kamala,Mata). Maha-kali
created Siva (Nilkantha,Rakta-bahu, Svetanga, samkara,Sthanu,
Kapardi,Triochana) and Sarasvati)Trayi-vidya,Kamadhenu, Stri,Bhasaha,
Akshara,Svara). Maha-sarasvati created Krishna(Vishnu,
Hrishikesha,Vasudeva,Janardana) and Gauri (Uma,Sati,Chandi,Sundari,Subhaga,Siva)(17-23)
Mahalakshmi thereupon gave Sarasvati as consort to
Brahma,Gauri to Rudra(Viz.Siva) and Lakshmi to Vasudeva(viz. Krishna).Brahma
with the help of Sarasvati created the primordial egg(anda); and Siva with the
help of Gauri broke it open. Then the entire universe came out of it. Vishnu
with the help of Lakshmi nourished it and protected it. Siva with the help of
Gauri undertook to dissolve it at the end(26-29).
Mahalakshmi herself is all the things(sarva-sattva-mayi) and
governs all things(isvari). She is both devoid of form (nirakara) and filled
with forms (sakara), and is known by various names(nanabhidana-bhrt).
