Odissi ( or the precursors of Odissi) is one of the oldest surviving dance forms of India, dating back to the 1st and 2nd century BC according to archeological evidences, though Mahari legend and oral tradition hold that its origins date back even further to Satya Yug

In ancient India the temple was the center of learning, culture, religion and art. In Orissa, in the temple of Lord Jagannath, 'Lord of the Universe,' religious rituals, music, and dance were combined together to create the highly sculpturesque and devotional dance style, Odissi. At the temle, Odissi was ( and still is) one of the 36 parts of the ritual done for the daily worship of the Lord Jagannath by Devadasis called Maharis who are female dancers/singers married to the Lord .

The current form of Odissi is the product of a 20th century revival after Indian independence. Dedicated scholars and Gurus of both the Mahari and Gotipua styles, used ancient texts, temple sculptures, and paintings in an effort to reconstruct the dance. Among these experts were Gurus Pankaj Charan Das (son of a Mahari), and Kelucharan Mohapatra, Dev Prasad Das, and Mayadar Rout (all of whom were once Gotipuas). They today are know as the originators of todays Odissi. Mention should be made scholar Dr Dhiren Pattanayak who had immence contribution in popularising Odissi.

The dance has traveled from temple to stage but the fervor and the spirituality and surrender to the Lord remains the same.