Amaru Shataka

"Amaruśataka" or "Amarukaśataka" (अमरुशतक, "śataka" in Sanskrit means one hundred) refers to a body of 101-136 verses authored by Amaru or Amaruka. Amaru's time roughly placed around 800 AD. Not much is known about his life but legend has it that Adi Śankarâcarya entered Amaru's dead body to master the art of erotic love. Other legends also state that Amaru was the 101st reincarnation of a soul that had previously occupied a 100 women.

"Amaruśataka" ranks as one of the finest lyrical poetry in the annals of Sanskrit literature comparable or even surpassing IAST|Bhartṛhari's "IAST|Śṛngâraśataka". "Amaruśataka" offers subtle insights into, and explores many different aspects of erotic love. Several themes include love, passion, estrangement, longing, rapprochement, joy and sorrow.

Amaru's poetic style is graceful, compulsive, fiercely passionate, and at times moving. A few poems can offer also, according to some scholars, glimpses into transcendence and a longing for the Divine.

English Translations

* "Erotic Love Poems from India", A Translation of the "Amarushataka" translated by Andrew Schelling, Shambala Library, 2004.
* The "Amaruśataka" was also translated as the part of the "Love Lyrics" volume by Greg Bailey in the Clay Sanskrit Library.