Odissi Workshop 1

ODISSI

The classical dance practiced in Orissa is called Odissi. It is the oldest surviving dance form in India on the basis of archaeological evidence.



History: Odissi is claimed to be the earliest Indian dance on the basis of archaeological evidence. The earliest evidence is a stone edict from 2nd Century B.C in the Rāni Gumpha caves of Orissa which describes a dancer dancing with her accompanists. These might even be prior to the Nātya Shāsthra.



There is absolutely no reference to dance from the 2nd century B.C to the 7th century A.D due to the Buddhist influence. It was during the reign of the Késari kings for 3 centuries from the 9th century AD that the construction of temples became an important feature. Both music and dance became closely connected with rituals and worship. The Odissi dance form has been preserved to this day by the Nātya Shāsthra and Gotipua dancers.



Natyashastra: Maharis were the female attendants of the temple. The earliest record of dancing girls in the temples is 10th century A.D. In the temple of Jagannāth at Puri, the dancing girls were appointed for the essential ritual service of the deity by Ananthavarma Chōdogangadhévan in the 11th century. The Maharis were divided into several groups according to their services. The dancing girls were known as Nachuni and others Bhitara gauni (female singers who sing inside the temple), Bāhara gauni (female singers who sing outside the temple) and Gaudasani (those whose duty was to fan the god). There was another class of Maharis known as Samparadha Niyōga whose duty was to dance during ceremonial procession such as Ratha Yāthra, Chandhan Yāthra etc.



With the invasion of the Mughals and lack of royal patronage, the dance of the Maharis declined. The Maharis ceased to be respected as dhāsīs of the lord and came to be associated with being concubines. With the rule of the Marathās in the 18th century, the arts were revived.