Every conception of life and the Universe requires a foundation to give it the necessary firm hold. This source, out of which the Universe as mind and matter has evolved, is the female spiritual Power, Shakti, who is the Great Mother of the Universe. The Goddess Shakti is the "power" which pervades the whole of the universe, and from which the Universe has emanated. There is nothing within the manifest world , which is not Shakti in its essence. The manifest world is mind and matter, that is to say, all that we call our thought, will, imagination, etc. is mind, and all the realm of nature is matter. She the Goddess is contained, in all the manifestations of the universe, but She remains, so to speak, unexhausted by being the material cause of the Universe. She in Her essence remains unaffected and greater than the entire created world. 

She in her highest aspect is pure spirit or pure consciousness as such she is called Chit-Shakti  but her nature and essence become apparent also in all that we are aware of through our senses. So She is matter substance too and as such She is called Maya-Shakti 

The Supreme Deity is the Universal Mother or MAA as she is affectionately called by her Bakthas . MAA is Love and Compassion personified. She is full of kindness and joy . She is Karunamayi and Anandamayi. She is always on the lookout for ways and means of helping her Devotee. Unfortunately people view God or the Supreme Deity as a power who punishes the devotees for their misdeeds. But how can a mother punish her children for their misdeeds. Reprimand, warn may be , but no mother punishes her children to hurt them. When we visualise the Supreme Deity as full of Love and Compassion how can she punish her children? Since the images of MAA carry many weapons it is mistakenly believed that MAA is always angry and ready to punish her devotee.