Amaruka was the author 8th century Sanskrit work Amarustaka, literally a hundred love letters. Amaruka was also called Amaru, Amara, Amaraka and Amraka. As a collection of songs depicting various emotions and situations of love within the confining limits of a stanza, Amarusataka holds the same distinguished status as Gahasattasai in Prakrit language. Verses from Amarusataka are copiously cited in works on poetics.
Unfortunately, we have absolutely no information about the
life and time of the poet, Amaruka, and consequently unbelievable legends have
grown around him. But the name Amaruka and the fact that the earliest reference
to and citations of his poetry are met with in Anandavardhana’s commentary in
Dhvanyaloka (III.7) suggests that Amaru belonged to Kashmir. And the fact that Anandavardhana
(850 CE) mentions his name, and three verses from Amarusataka are quoted by
Vamana (800 CE) would suggest that he poet lived around mid-8th century CE.
According to a popular stanza, Amaruka was a goldsmith by
caste. Going by the fact that in the first two stanzas of his composition he invokes
Goddess Ambika and prays to Shambhu, he was most probably a Shaiva.
The widespread popularity of Amarustaka is demonstrated by
the fact that it has come down to us in several recensions from different
regions and with an exceptionally large number of commentaries.
The work is a product of urban culture, and men and women
depicted by Amaruka breathe in an urban atmosphere of comfort. The sentiments
and emotions described have an urban sophistication. There is a fundamental
difference between this poem and other similar lyrical anthologies; it deals
with love of lawfully wedded men and women.