Goddess Śakti (Sakti) or Pārvatī (Parvati), divine mother of the universe, is also known as Amvikā (Amvika). In Anuśāsanaparva (Anusasanaparva) of Mahābhārata (Mahabharata) it is said that by recalling or mere uttering of the name of Goddess Amvikā, people may be redeemed of all sins. In Purāṇa(s) (Purana; Mythological Scriptures), too, Goddess Pārvatī was known as Amvikā. The general meaning of ‘Amvā’ is ‘mother’. So, adding ‘ka’ pratyay with the term ‘Amvā’, retains the same meaning with Amvikā.

[See Amvā – 4 (Amva – 4)]

Though in Mahābhārata-Purāṇa Amvikā has become one with Pārvatī-Durgā, in more ancient Brāhmaṇ-texts, she is the sister–svasā of Śiva, not his wife. In Vājasaneyī Saṃhitā of Śukla Yajurveda, it is said, “O Rudra! This is your yajña-share. Please accept it along with your sister Amvikā–
eṣa te rudra bhāgaḥ saha sasrā amvikayā taṃyuṣasva
ava rudra mahīmahyava devaṃ tramvaka.
If we take the example of Kṛṣṇayajurveda alongside, there is a similar mantra, where Rudra is invited to accept his yajña-share along with his sister, who is called Amvikā–
juṣasvaiṣate rudra bhāgaḥ saha svasrā amvikayā taṃ juṣasva.
By the end of this mantra, Rudra is clearly identified with Śiva, because he is called Piṇākahasta Kṛttivāsāḥ. But Amvikā is the sister of Rudra, and she is an associate of the destructive principle of Rudra, and such is her support that she deserves the share of yajña along with Śiva. It is to be noted that Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa has cited the portion from Vājasaneyī Saṃhitā, quoted above, saying that Amvikā is Rudra̍s sister, and so she is also known as Traymvakā–
amvikā ha vai nāmāsya svasā, tayā saiva saha bhāgastad
yadaṣa striyā saha bhāgastasmāt trayamvakāṃ nāma.

In fact , the very moment Amvikā has been called Traymvakā, her status as the sister of Rudra has been transformed into the status of his wife. Actually, the sense of ̍being with̍ Rudra in his share of yajña, in his desctructive activities, her elemental nature as one with Rudra– all these ̍associative̍ qualities have ultimately made Amvikā the feminine gender form of Trayamvaka. This would be reflected in the hymn to Caṇḍī–
śaraṇye trayamvake gauri narāyaṇi namo̍stute.

The term ̍amvaka̍ means ̍eye̍. Tri-amvaka refers to the three eyes of Śiva.– trīamvakaṃ saṃyaminaṃ dadarśa. And Durgā has also three eyesIn his commentary of Śuklayajurveda, Mahīdhara also says that it is proved by the Śruti that Amvikā is the sister of Rudra–
amvikāyāṃ rudrabhaginītvaṃ śrutyoktam.

But in the commentary of the same mantra, a later commentator like Sāyanācārya has written in his annotation of Kṛṣṇayajurveda– Amvikā is Pārvatī, You accept your share along with Pārvatī.
amvikayā pārvatyā saha aṃśa juṣasva sevasva.
There is a common factor of similarity in the way Amvikā became the wife of Rudra from being his sister. As Rudra-Śiva is an epitome of destruction, so in the Purāṇa(s) Durgā, Canḍī, Pārvatī is also known as the slayer of Asura(s), Mahiṣāsura, Śumbha and Niśumbha– that is, she is also a destroyer-goddess. So, in Vedic times, one who had been the sister-associate of Rudra, came to be his wife– Amvikā thus became one with Rudraṇī, Bhavānī and Durgā and other forms of Śakti-goddesses.