11 Avatars of Siva & Durga

Shiva has several names and avataras and various scriptures and religious books give different names. The 11 Rudras worshipped in Ekadasa Rudrabhishekam Pooja are:
1. Mahadeva, 2. Shiva , 3. Maha Rudra, 4. Shankara, 5. Neelalohita, 6. Eshana Rudra, 7. Vijaya Rudra, 8. Bheema Rudra, 9. Devadeva, 10. Bhavodbhava and 11. Adityatmaka Srirudra.

Their 11 consorts of these 11 Rudras are:- 1. Dhee devi, 2. Dhritti devi, 3. Ushna (Rasala) devi, 4. Uma devi, 5. Neeyut devi, 5. Sarpi devi, 7. Eela devi, 8. Ambika devi, 9. Ieravati devi, 10. Sudha devi and 11. Deeksha devi respectively.

Avatar to Elevate

• Avatar `touches down' earth so that we can `take off' to his high avataravens.
• Avatar `demotes' himself to our level so as to `promote' us to his level.
• Avatar `descends' leaving his high pedestal to avatarlp us leave our mundane existence and ascend' unto him.
• Avatar `steps down' so that we may `step up'.
• Avatar humbles himself to teach us realize how humble we really are.

Manu or manvantara

http://originalcouple.blogspot.com/

Why Taking Ridiculous Forms

He manifests himself in `ridiculous' forms like fish, tortoise, boar, Half-lion, dwarf etc to appeal to our `ridiculous perceptions' and help us `sublimate' our lives

Gaudiya Vaishnava Conception of Shiva / Tatva

http://www.indiadivine.org/audarya/spiritual-discussions/453537-gaudiya-vaishnava-conception-shiva.html
http://www.bhagavadgitausa.com/TATTVAS-36.htm

Lord Vital Take's 1000's of Form to Protect Devoted