One-line: the Supreme Goddess: mother, power, illusion, wisdom, warrior, teacher, and final refuge.
First appears: Book 1, in Book 1 retelling.
Who they are: Devi is the center of this Purana. The text does not present her as one goddess among others; it presents her as the power behind the gods, the substance of the world, the teacher of liberation, and the mother who appears whenever the story needs rescue. Different names bring different moods, but the underlying claim is one.
What they do that matters:
- Wakes Vishnu, empowers the gods, and kills demons through her forms.
- Teaches the Devi Gita in Book 7.
- Appears as Gayatri and receives Janamejaya’s final sacrifice in Book 12.
Other names: The Goddess, Maha Maya, Bhagavati, Adya Shakti, Mula Prakriti
Family / lineage (when relevant): Appears through many forms: Durga, Lakshmi, Saraswati, Savitri, Radha, Gayatri, and others.