New light has been shed on the ancient roots of India’s classical dance heritage as researchers highlight the earliest sculptural evidence of Odissi, one of India’s oldest dance forms, found in the Jain cave temples of Khandagiri and Udayagiri in Odisha.
Dating back to the 2nd century BCE, these caves — including Machapuri and Hathigumpha — contain intricate carvings of female dancers believed to be maharis or devadasis. These temple dancers played a vital role in religious rituals, performing sacred dances as offerings to the divine.
These early depictions predate many classical references and demonstrate that ritualistic dance was already a flourishing cultural practice in the region. Further carvings illustrating graceful poses and movement sequences are also found in ancient temples such as Parashurameshwara, Kapileshwara, and Brahmeshwara — underscoring the unbroken lineage of Odissi from sacred ritual to contemporary stage art.
Experts say these sculptures not only represent artistic brilliance but also serve as historical testimony to the spiritual and cultural significance of dance in early Indian civilization.
“This is not just art; it’s living history carved in stone,” said an archaeologist studying the region.
The discovery reinforces Odisha’s place as a cradle of classical Indian dance and further enriches the narrative of Odissi’s divine origins.
