Social Mobility in Medieval Odisha: A Study of Literature and Ritual

In medieval Odisha, social mobility was not fixed but constantly shaped by literature, religion, and ritual practices. This study explores how ordinary people navigated their place within a structured social order using the cultural tools available to them. While the period is often seen as dominated by rigid caste hierarchies, a closer look at vernacular writings and local traditions reveals a more fluid and changing society. A key role in this transformation was played by the Bhakti movement, especially through the works of the Panchasakha poets, who wrote in Odia rather than Sanskrit. By using the language of the people, they made spiritual ideas more accessible and challenged elite control over religious knowledge. At the same time, the Jagannath tradition created a shared religious space where people from different social backgrounds such as tribal communities, lower castes, and elites could come together in acts of devotion. Beyond these larger movements, everyday rituals in villages and temples also shaped social relations. Marginalized groups, including Adivasi and Dalit communities, often held important ritual roles as specialists and caretakers of sacred spaces. Their participation was not merely symbolic; it gave them a degree of recognition and influence within local power structures. By bringing together literary and ritual perspectives, this study shows that social identity in medieval Odisha was not simply inherited but actively negotiated. It highlights how communities, even those on the margins, found ways to assert their presence and reshape their social standing.