Odissi | Odissa’s Classical Dance

Odissi dance comes from the Indian state of Odisha. According to Natya Shastra, ‘Odhra Magadha’ is the earliest form of present-day Odissi dance. It is one of the eight Indian classical dances. It is a sensual and lyrical dance form. Considered to be a dance of love, Odissi depicts the human and divine aspects of life. It also highlights the subtleties of life, as well as the mundane. Evidence of the continuing tradition of Odissi dance can be seen from the 2nd to the 10th century AD in the form of Buddhist sculptures, Nataraja, tantric images, celestial dancers, and musicians in the ancient Shaivite temples.

In this article, we will discuss the history, evolution, and revival of Odissi dance form. Also, learn about its distinctive features and elements.

Odissi Dance

An Overview of Odissi Dance

Udaygiri and Khandagiri Caves in Odisha provide some of the finest examples of the earliest instances of Odissi dance. The dance derives its name from the ‘Odra nritya’ mentioned in the Natya Shastra. It was mainly practiced by the’maharis’ and patronized by Kharavela, the Jain king. Maharis were ritually married to Lord Jagannath (considered a form of Vishnu), who was regarded as a living entity. Young girls, aged 8 or 9, were mostly made a part of the temple service; either their families dedicated them to the Lord as an expression of devotion or gratitude, or they were adopted by older maharis as their daughters.

With the spread of Vaishnavism in the region, the Mahari system became defunct. Instead, young boys were recruited as ‘Gotipuas.’ ‘Nartala’ another variant of this art, continued to be practiced at the royal courts. Outward appearances, hand signals, and body developments altogether propose a specific feeling, or one of the nine rasas.

History and Evolution of Odissi Dance

Odissi dance traces its roots to the ancient Sanskrit Hindu text ‘Natya Shastra’, which deals with different performing arts. As per the Natya Shastra, ‘Odhra Magadha’ is the earliest form of present-day Odissi dance.

The archaeological and historical sites where Odissi was performed were the caves and temples located in Puri, Konark, and Bhubaneswar. Udayagiri caves, the largest Buddhist complex in Odisha, house the Manchapuri cave, which belongs to the reign of Kharavela, the Jain king of Kalinga from the Mahameghavahana dynasty and depicts carvings of musicians and dance. References to music and dance are also found in Udayagiri’s Hathigumpha Inscriptions, which were inscribed by Kharavela.

Odissi Dance During the Mughal Era

Attacks by Muslim invaders in temples and monasteries in Odisha and other institutions in Eastern India not only witnessed the plunder of ancient sites, but these raids also negatively affected the development of all art forms and restricted the freedom of artists. For instance, the invasion of Odisha by Sultan Firuz Shah Tughlaq (1360–1361) witnessed the destruction of several temples, including the Jagannath Temple in Puri, which included damage and destruction of the dance halls and the dancing statues.

Whatever little of the dance forms of this period survived was due to the patronage of some generous rulers. In the Mughal and Sultanate periods, temple dancers entertained the family and courts of the Sultans and sort of became the concubines of the royals.

Decline and Revival of Odissi

With the emergence of colonial rule in the 18th century, followed by British colonial rule in the 19th century, there was a decline in various classical dance forms that were subjected to contemptuous fun and discouragement, including Odissi. Also, the social and economic conditions associated with Devadasi culture were met with contempt and a despicable attitude from the Christian missionaries and British officials.

Many classical art revivalists came together to revive the ancient classical dance forms, including Odissi. One such revivalist was the Oriya poet, researcher, and dramatist Kavichandra Kalicharan Pattanayak, who not only made an effort to revive the dance form but was also accredited for naming it ‘Odissi’.

Features of Odissi Dance

In the mid-20th century, Odissi became famous at an international level due to Charles Fabri and Indrani Rahman, two eminent personalities.

Some of the essential features of Odissi are:

• Similar to Bharatnatyam in terms of mudras and postures to express emotions

• The tribhanga posture, i.e., the three-bended form of the body, is innate to Odissi dance.

• Also, the ‘Chowk’ posture with hands spread out depicts masculinity.

• While performing Odissi, the lower body remains largely static, and there is movement of the torso. Hand gestures have an important role in conveying expressions during the Nritya part.

• By portraying gracefulness, sensuality, and beauty, the Odissi dance form stands out. Odissi dancers create intricate geometrical shapes and patterns on the body. Hence, it is known as ‘mobile sculpture.’

• Famous Epics Related to Odissi Dance

(a) Jadunath Sinha’s Abhinaya Darpana Prakasha

(b) Rajmani Patra’s Abhinaya Chandrika

(c) Maheshwara Mahapatra’s Abhinaya Chandrika

Jayadeva’s Gita Govinda is famous for inspiring Odissi dancers in selecting the dance themes.

Elements of Odissi Dance

• Mangalacharan, or the beginning, is where a flower is offered to Mother Earth.

• Batu nritya comprises the dance. It has the Tribhanga and the Chowk postures.

• Pallavi, which includes the facial expressions and the song representation.

• Tharijham consists of pure dance before concluding.

• A concluding item has two types: Moksha, which includes joyous movements. Trikhanda Majura is another way of concluding in which the performer takes leave from the gods, the audience, and the stage.

• It fuses Indian ragas from both the South and North regions, depicting an exchange of ideas and expressions between the two regions of India.

• Accompanied by Hindustani classical music and instruments generally used as Manjira (cymbals), Pakhawaj (drums), sitar, flute, etc.

• Symbolizes the element of water.

• The woman dancer wears an elaborate hairstyle, silver jewelry, a long necklace, etc.

• Famous proponents of Odissi dance: Guru Pankaj Charan Das, Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra, Sonal Mansingh, Sharon Lowen (USA), and Anandini Dasi (Argentina).

Conclusion

Odissi dance originates from Odisha and is recognized as one of the eight classical dance forms of India. It is known globally for its lyricism, sensuality, and emphasis on bhakti bhava (attitudes of devotion and surrender). According to Natya Shastra, ‘Odhra Magadha’ is the earliest form of present-day Odissi dance. It also highlights the subtleties of life, as well as the mundane. Udaygiri and Khandagiri Caves in Odisha provide some of the finest examples of the earliest instances of Odissi dance. It includes themes from Vaishnavism and other Hindu gods and goddesses like Shiva, Surya, and Shakti.

FAQs: An Overview of Odissi Dance | History and Evolution

1. How did the Odissi dance come into being?

Udaygiri-Khandagiri Caves provide some of the finest examples of the earliest instances of Odissi dance. The dance derives its name from the ‘Odra nritya’ mentioned in the Natya Shastra. It was mainly practiced by the’maharis’ and patronized by Kharavela, the Jain king. With the spread of Vaishnavism in the region, the Mahari system became defunct. Instead, young boys were recruited as ‘Gotipuas.’ ‘Nartala’ another variant of this art, continued to be practiced at the royal courts.

2. What does the Odissi Dance costume look like?

In Odissi dance, the female artists wear beautiful-hued sarees typically made of neighborhood silk decorated with conventional patterns. The woman dancer wears an elaborate hairstyle, silver jewelry, a long necklace, etc.

3. Who are the Maharis?

Maharis are the chief repositories of the Odissi dance. They were earlier known as the temple dancers. However, it is said that the Odissi dance form started to crumble when royal kings started employing Maharis in the royal court for dance performances.

4. Who are the Gotipuas?

Gotipuas means a group of boys who are trained in Odissi; they perform Odissi dance in temples and for entertainment purposes. Today, various Odissi male teachers belong to the Gotipua set of dancers.

5. Mention some famous proponents of Odissi dance.

Guru Pankaj Charan Das, Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra, Sonal Mansingh, Sharon Lowen (USA), and Anandini Dasi (Argentina) are some famous proponents of Odissi dance.