The Secret Doctrine of Goddess Lalita
(Sri LalitaAṣṭottara Rahasyārthamu)
24. pañchakṛtya parāyaṇā
She who is devoted to the five functions.
This nāma describes how the Goddess controls the universe by performing five functions – creation, preservation, destruction, annihilation (tirodhānam), and restoration (anugraham). She performs these functions as She manifests from parā to vaikharī, from Pure Consciousness to the gross world.
Creation, preservation, and dissolution reveal Devī ’s all-pervasive nature (jagadātmika). This entire phenomenal world emanates from Her, hence it is not different from Her. Her powers of tirodhānam and anugraham, annihilation and restoration, reveal Devī’s controlling nature (jaganiyātmika). By contracting Her Infinite Power, She manifest as countless finite beings. By concealing Her real nature, She makes them forget their real nature and live in ignorance. This concealment and resulting ignorance is tirodhānam. By revealing Her true nature, Devī removes ignorance and helps us realize our full potential as siva. This revelation is Her blessing (anugraham). Devī does not perform tirodhānam and anugraham in a random or unchecked manner. She does so in accordance with the merits and demerits accrued by individuals based on their past actions. Pure and Perfect, She is not subject to likes and dislikes.
Although five functions are attributed to Devī, in reality, they can be reduced to two: tirodhāna and anugraha. Creation, sustenance, and dissolution are part of annihilation, and not apart from it. Because our real nature as Pure Consciousness is concealed from us, we assume that the world is real, that it is created, sustained, and dissolved by some external power. If there was no concealment (tirodhāna), there would be no need for revelation (anugraha). If there was no annihilation, nothing new can be created (śruṣṭi), sustained (sthiti), or dissolved (laya). Consciousness (śakti) would remain Complete and Perfect without any transformation.