In Hinduism, there are three gunas. These gunas are essentially personality traits and each person is supposed to balance these traits in themselves to follow dharma. The three gunas are Sattva guna, Rajas guna and Tamas guna.
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The gunas are considered to be the basics of existence itself. Tamas literally translates to inertia, Rajas to activity and Sattva to substance. The Trimurti, atlhough Nirgun, are associated with one guna each : Shiva with Tamas, Brahma with Rajas and Vishnu with Sattva. The three major celestial objects are also associated with a guna : the Earth with Tamas, the Sun with Rajas and the Moon with Sattva.
The Tamas guna is embodied by Mahakali, the goddess of destruction, rebirth and time. She is often associated with doomsday and the end of the Kal Chakra. She is seen as a force beyond normal time and matter, especially in her form Kaalratri and Maharatri where she is supposed to destroy time and consume the world in her own darkness. She is seen as the most fiersome form of the Trigunamayee.
The Rajas guna is embodied by Mahalakshmi, the goddess of wealth, prosperity, auspiciousness and power. Mahalakshmi literally translates to 'the great she who completes one's goal'. She encourages the kama part of life and is associated with maya. She encourages creation and invoking her will give one prosperity. Every woman is seen as a Mahalakshmi of her household.
The Sattva Guna is embodied by Mahasaraswati, the goddess of knowledge, art, speech and learning. Mahasaraswati can translate to 'the great she who possesses water' or 'the great she who possesses speech'. In the Southern part of India, the last three days of Navratri is also Saraswati Puja, which consists of Puja Veppu, Puja Eduppu and Vidyaarambham.
This aspect of Hinduism is taken from the Devi Mahatmya which describes a supreme Goddess, Mahamaya, as the mother of the whole world and her three aspects form the Tridevi.
