Editing Avatar (section)

==Avatars of Devis ==
{{multiple image|perrow = 2|total_width=240
| image1 = Durga Mahisasuramardini.JPG | width1=1973|height1=3069
| alt1 = An 18th century painting of the goddess Durga fighting Mahishasura
| image2 = Kali by Raja Ravi Varma.jpg | width2=393|height2=549
| alt2 = A ca. 1910 chromolithograph of Kali trampling Shiva by Raja Ravi Varma
| image3 = Sita in exile.jpg | width3=500|height3=716
| alt3 = An early 20th century chromolithograph of Sita in exile by Raja Ravi Varma
| image4 = A sculpture of the Hindu deity Parvati, 1050-1100 AD India.jpg | width4=1277 | height4=1687
| alt4 = The Hindu deity Parvati, 1050-1100 AD India
| footer = Avatars of Devi.  Clockwise from upper left: [[Durga]], [[Kali]], [[Parvati]] and [[Sita]].
}}
Avatars are also observed in [[Shaktism]], the sect dedicated to the worship of the Goddess ([[Devi]]), but they do not have universal acceptance in the sect. The [[Devi Bhagavata Purana]] describes the descent of Devi avatars to punish the wicked and defend the righteous as – much as the [[Bhagavata Purana]] does with the avatars of Vishnu.<ref name="Triumph">{{cite book|last=Brown|first=Cheever Mackenzie|title=The triumph of the goddess: the canonical models and theological visions of the Devī-Bhāgavata Purāṇa|publisher=SUNY Press|year=1990|page=32|isbn=978-0-7914-0363-1|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=erENsMcblGAC&pg=PA32}}</ref>

Nilakantha, an 18th-century commentator on the Devi Bhagavata Purana&nbsp;– which includes the Devi Gita&nbsp;– says that various avatars of the Goddess includes [[Shakambhari]] and even the masculine Krishna and Rama&nbsp;– generally thought to be Vishnu's avatars.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Devī Gītā: the song of the Goddess|page=272|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OxayHczql9EC&q=Devi+avatara | isbn=978-0-7914-3940-1 | year=1998 | publisher=SUNY Press|author1=Brown, Cheever Mackenzie}} verses 9.22cd-23ab</ref> [[Parvati]], [[Lakshmi]] and [[Saraswati]] are main goddesses worshipped as Devi avatars.<ref>Brown, p. 270.</ref>

===Avatars of Parvati===
Devi is popular in her form as [[Parvati]]. In [[Devi Mahatmya]] she is seen as the Goddess [[Mahakali]], and in Uma Samhita, she is seen as Devi herself. Regarding her incarnations, it varies per sect in Hinduism. She could be all Goddesses as said in Shaivism and some main Shatism interpretations like the Sri kula and Kali Kula families, or just a form of Devi in some other Shaktism interpretations and many Vaishnava interpretations. With this in mind, Parvati's forms include:
* [[Mahakali]]
* [[Sati (Hindu goddess)|Sati]]
* [[Mahavidyas]]- [[Kali]], [[Tara (Mahavidya)|Tara]], [[Tripura Sundari|Tripurasundari]], [[Bhuvaneshwari]], [[Bhairavi]], [[Chinnamasta]], [[Dhumavati]], [[Bagalamukhi]]
* The [[Shakta pithas]]
* [[Navadurgas]] - [[Shailaputri]], [[Brahmacharini]], [[Chandraghanta]], [[Kushmanda]], [[Skandamata]], [[Katyayani]], [[Kaalratri]], [[Mahagauri]], [[Siddhidhatri]] 
* [[Annapurna (goddess)|Annapurna]]
* [[Kaushiki]]
* [[Durga]]
*[[Shitala]]
* [[Maheshwari]] 
* [[Ardhanarishvara]] 
* [[Vindhyavasini]] 
* [[Bhramari]] 
* [[Shakambhari]] 
* [[Raktadantika]] 
* [[Twarita]]
*In North India- [[Khodiyar]], [[Bahuchara Mata]], [[Naina Devi]], [[Devi|Jwala]] etc.
* In Western India- [[Bhavani]], [[Saptashrungi]], [[Ekvira]], [[Durga|Amba]] etc.
* In East India-[[Dakshina Kali]], [[Kamakhya]], [[Jagadhatri]] etc.
* In South India- [[Meenakshi]], [[Vishalakshi]], [[Kamakshi]], [[Parvati|Abhirami]], [[Mookambika]], [[Akilandeswari]], [[Mariamman]], [[Karumariamman]] etc.

All of these incarnations helped provide security to the world and even brought Shiva into the participation of worldly affairs.<ref>Kinsley, David (1987, reprint 2005). ''Hindu Goddesses: Visions of the Divine Feminine in the Hindu Religious Tradition'', Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, {{ISBN|81-208-0394-9}}, p.35</ref>

===Avatars of Lakshmi===
Like Vishnu, his consort [[Lakshmi]] incarnates as in many forms to help provide order and to enlighten the world with her consort. She has many forms, and just like Parvati, some of her forms are not consistent throughout all sects and interpretations of Hinduism. In Vaishnavism and some interpretations of Shaktism, Lakshmi is seen as Devi herself. She could be every Goddess as said in Vaishnavism and some interpretations of Shaktism, or just another form of Devi as seen in other interpretations of Shaktism and in Shaivism. With this in mind, Lakshmi's forms include:
* [[Mahalakshmi]]
* At 108 [[Divya Desam]]
* [[Ashtalakshmi]] - Adi Lakshmi, Dhanya Lakshmi, Dhana Lakshmi, Gaja Lakshmi, Santana Lakshmi, Vidya Lakshmi, Veera Lakshmi, Vijaya Lakshmi
* With avatars of Vishnu - [[Sita]], [[Radha]], [[Ashtasakhi]], [[Gopi]], [[Rukmini]], [[Ashtabharya]],  [[Junior wives of Krishna]], [[Padmavathi]], [[Lakshmi Narayana]], [[Andal]], Dharini
* Singular forms - [[Vedavati]], Chottanikkara Bhagavathy, [[Mookambika]] devi, [[Vaishno Devi]], As Kolhapur ambabai
* [[Matrikas]] - [[Vaishnavi (Matrika goddess)|Vaishnavi]], [[Varahi]], [[Narasimhi]]
* 3 forms of Lakshmi in [[Sri Vaishnava]] - [[Sri]], [[Bhūmi|Bhumi]], [[Nila Devi|Nila]]
* Mahavidya [[Kamalatmika]]