The initial form of Odissi dance was performed by women serving in temples. What was their traditional designation?

Correct option is C

The correct answer is (c) Maharis

Explanation:

• Maharis were the traditional temple dancers of Odisha who performed the earliest form of Odissi.

• They were devoted to Lord Jagannath and considered spiritually wedded to the deity.

• Their dance was a sacred ritual and an integral part of temple worship in the Jagannath Temple of Puri.

• The Mahari tradition significantly influenced the evolution of classical Odissi dance.

• Odissi later developed further through the Gotipua tradition, but Maharis remain its earliest foundation.

Information Booster:

• The word “Mahari” is derived from “Mahan Nari,” meaning “great woman.”

• Odissi is one of the eight classical dances of India, characterized by tribhangi and chauka postures.

Additional Knowledge:

Devadasis (Option a)

• Devadasis were temple dancers in various parts of India, but the specific term in Odisha was Mahari.

• Devadasis served in temples in states like Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka.

Maibis (Option b)

• Maibis are priestess-dancers associated with the traditional rituals and dances of Manipur.

• They are connected to the Lai Haraoba festival.

Maharani (Option d)

• Maharani means queen and has no connection to temple dancing traditions.

• It is a royal title, not a designation for dancers.