Author(s): Pravakar Sethi, Prof. Jayanti Dora
Abstract:
This paper examines the role of ritual knowledge in shaping social stratification in Medieval Odisha between the ninth and sixteenth centuries A.D. It argues that the possession, transmission, and institutionalisation of ritual knowledge were closely linked with the construction and maintenance of social hierarchy. Brahmanical traditions, reinforced through temple institutions, land grants, and royal patronage, established ritual expertise as a source of religious authority and social prestige. In this process, Brahmins occupied a privileged position as custodians of sacred knowledge, while other social groups participated in ritual life according to their prescribed social status and occupational roles. Drawing upon inscriptions, literary texts, Smriti literature, temple records, and contemporary historical studies, the paper explores how ritual practices influenced patterns of social differentiation and legitimised political authority. It also examines the interaction between state power and religious institutions in promoting Brahmanical ideals, facilitating the integration of tribal and local communities into the expanding social order through processes of Brahmanisation and Sanskritisation. While ritual knowledge often reinforced existing hierarchies, it also created opportunities for social advancement, as ruling elites, administrative officials, and influential local groups acquired religious legitimacy through temple patronage, land donations, and participation in ritual activities. The study further highlights the significance of major temple centres, particularly those associated with Jagannath worship, as spaces where religious authority, economic resources, and political power converged. These institutions not only preserved sacred traditions but also contributed to the organisation of society by regulating access to ritual privileges and social recognition. By situating ritual knowledge within the broader framework of state formation and social mobility, the paper demonstrates that knowledge functioned both as an instrument of social control and as a medium through which individuals and communities negotiated status in Medieval Odisha.
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