The Secret Doctrine of Goddess Lalita
(Sri LalitaAṣṭottara Rahasyārthamu)
8. sarvagā
She who pervades all the worlds and all living and non-living things. She who is omnipresent.
Only Consciousness can shine both as the subject and the object. Because It is aware of Itself, It is both pramāṇa (means of knowledge) and pramēyā (object of knowledge). Inert objects, such as space are not self-aware. They depend on a source of knowledge or a knower for their existence. It is only Consciousness that reveals the five elements to us. If it were not for Consciousness, this entire universe would appear as nothing but darkness. If inert objects cannot cognize their own existence and there is no Conscious entity to cognize their existence, what else could be there except darkness?
Therefore the entire world of objects depends on Consciousness for its existence, but Consciousness exists on its own. It shines and makes everything shine in its effulgence. Hence, the Goddess is called sarvagā - that which is expansive and permeates everything, living and non-living. Expansion does not mean external expansion only. It means inside, outside, and in the middle. Everything appears in Consciousness. There can be nothing outside Consciousness. If a thing loses touch with Consciousness, objects cease to exist. For a thing to be known in its entirety, it must be pervaded in its entirety by Consciousness. śakti is the source of this entire universe. Because She is Consciousness Itself, the universe appears to us. Because of Her infinite and expansive nature, we revere Her as sarvagā.