FROM TEXT TO TONE: TRANSFORMATION OF SANSKRIT AND ODIA LITERATURE INTO ODISSI MUSICAL EXPRESSION

Abstract

The evolution of Odissi music represents a remarkable confluence of literary tradition and musical innovation. Rooted deeply in Sanskrit and Odia textual heritage, Odissi music embodies a unique transformation of poetic language into melodic and rhythmic expression. This paper explores the processes through which classical Sanskrit texts and regional Odia literature have been adapted into Odissi musical compositions. It examines aesthetic principles, linguistic adaptation, performative contexts, and the role of devotional traditions in shaping this transformation. By analyzing key literary sources, musical structures, and historical developments, this study highlights how text becomes tone, and literature finds renewed life in musical expression.