The trinity Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva in Hinduism /Sanatana dharma represents the three core processes of nature. Creation, sustenance and destruction respectively. These 3 male deity (for lack of a better word) are completed by their three female counterparts – Saraswati, Lakshmi and Shakti.

The feminine provides the raw energy, the capability of learning and wisdom, luck and wealth and strength. Their male counterpart shapes it, directs it. Similar to yin and yang, the male (yang) is action and function whereas the yin (the female) is the raw potential or the essence.

Brahma and Saraswati

For creation, knowledge is essential – Brahma cannot create without the knowledge and skill of Saraswati.

Vishnu and Lakshmi

For sustenance you need wealth, resources, luck and so on. The lord of maintenance and protection cannot function without the Lakshmi’s blessing.

Shiva and Shakti

To destroy you need power. To break creation in to raw energy Shakti is needed. For creation, you need to destroy.

The circular nature of existence

Everything comes in to being (Brahma), lives for a while (Vishnu) and dissolves again (Shiva). There is no Brahma without Shiva and no Vishnu without Brahma and no Shiva without either of the other two. The creation flows through this cycle in all the shapes and sizes be it at the level of cosmos or at the level of individual atoms. Whether it is a thought, man made product all the creation has these three stages of existence.