Mayadhar Raut

Raut was born in the village Kantapenhara an Ahir family in Cuttack district, subsequently he received his dance training under the Guru-shishya tradition of Odissi by Rukmini Devi Arundale at Kalakshetra.

He was married to Mamta Khuntia, who died in 2017,{{cite news |title=His wife Mamta Raut died; Last Rites Today |url=https://odishabytes.com/odissi-guru-mayadhar-raut-passes-away-in-his-delhi-residence/ |work=Odisha Bytes |date=22 February 2025 |access-date=22 February 2025}} and they had one daughter and two sons; daughter Madhumita Raut is also a noted Odissi dancer.

Raut died in Delhi on 22 February 2025, at the age of 94.{{cite news |title=Odissi Guru Mayadhar Raut Passes Away At His Delhi Residence; Last Rites Today |url=https://odishabytes.com/odissi-guru-mayadhar-raut-passes-away-in-his-delhi-residence/ |work=Odisha Bytes |date=22 February 2025 |access-date=22 February 2025}}

File:Odissi-by-mayadhar-raut.jpg

Mayadhar Raut played a major role in giving Odissi its classical 'shastra'-based status. He introduced Mudra Vinyoga in 1955. His notable compositions include ‘Pashyati Dishi Dishi’ and ‘Priya Charu Shile’, composed in 1961.{{citation needed|date=September 2021}}

Mayadhar Raut was considered a master of Natyashastra and Abhinaya Darpana, and enriched the Abhinaya vocabulary of Odissi. He taught in Kala Vikas Kendra founded by Babulal Josi in Orissa, and trained dancers Surendranath Jena, Hare Krishna Behera and Ramani Ranjan Jena. Raut taught at Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra from 1970 until 1995.[http://orissadiary.com/personality/artist/Padmashri-Guru-Mayadhar-Raut.asp] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120224165034/http://orissadiary.com/personality/artist/Padmashri-Guru-Mayadhar-Raut.asp|date=24 February 2012}} Orissa Diary

As one of the founder members of Jayantika,[http://www.jayantika.com/] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110823140651/http://www.jayantika.com/|date=23 August 2011}} Jayantika an association formed in the 1950s, Guruji Mayadhar Raut played a major role in giving Odissi its classical status. He was the first Odissi Guru to introduce MUDRA VINYOGA in the study of Odissi in 1955 and SANCHARIBHAVA in the Odissi dance items and also the first to present on stage enchanting Gitagovinda ASHTAPADIS, portraying SHRINGARA RASA. His notable compositions include ‘Pashyati Dishi Dishi’. ‘Priya Charu Shile’, composed in 1961. Earlier, only the Oriya songs or the ASHTAPADI ‘Lalit Lavanga Lata’ and ‘Dashavatar’ were taught and performed.Odissi Yaatra : The Journey of Guru Mayadhar Raut, by Aadya Kaktikar (ed. Madhumita Raut) Publisher: B.R. Rhythms, Delhi,2010. {{ISBN|978-81-88827-21-3}}

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Guru Mayadhar Raut was honoured with Padma Shri by the President of India, Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, Sahitya Kala Parishad Award, Utkal Pratibha Puraskar, Odissi Sangeet Natak Academy Award, Rajeev Gandhi Samman, Kavi Samrat Upendra Bhanja Award and Tagore Akademi Ratna - one-time honour of Tagore Samman as a part of the ongoing commemoration of the 150th Birth Anniversary of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore by the Sangeet Natak Akademy, National Academy of Music, Dance and Drama.[http://www.narthaki.com/info/rev11/rev1141.html] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130729185135/http://www.narthaki.com/info/rev11/rev1141.html|date=29 July 2013}} Narthaki

In 2010, his 80th birthday was marked by a five-day international festival of music and dance titled "Yaatra" in Delhi. On this occasion, a book titled, Odissi Yaatra - Journey of Guru Mayadhar Raut, written by Aadya Kaktikar and edited by Madhumita Raut, was also released.{{cite news |title=A perfect birthday gift for Guruji |url=http://www.hindu.com/2010/07/23/stories/2010072358770200.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100728183837/http://www.hindu.com/2010/07/23/stories/2010072358770200.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=28 July 2010 |newspaper=The Hindu |date= 23 July 2010 }}

A short documentary on the life and works of Guru Mayadhar Raut is available.{{YouTube|Kg6RmFbgIQc|Documentary on Guruji}}

In August 2015, his 85th birthday was celebrated with a series of functions in Delhi and Jaipur by his disciple and daughter Madhumita Raut.{{cite news |title= Odissi Utsav to Celebrate Guru Mayadhar Raut's Life |date= 29 July 2015 |url=https://www.questia.com/read/1P3-3762003321}}{{dead link|date=July 2021}}

Raut received the following awards:

• Padma Shri Award (2010){{cite web|title=Padma Awards Directory (2010) |publisher=Ministry of Home Affairs |url=http://www.mha.nic.in/pdfs/PadmaAwd2010.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111126141319/http://mha.nic.in/pdfs/PadmaAwd2010.pdf |archive-date=26 November 2011 }}
• Sangeet Natak Akademi Tagore Ratna (2011){{cite web|title=Tagore Akademi Ratna and Tagore Akademi Puraskar (2011)|publisher=National Academy of Music, Dance and Drama|url=http://sangeetnatak.org/files/Press%20Release%20Tagore%20Samman.pdf|access-date=13 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303232313/http://sangeetnatak.org/files/Press%20Release%20Tagore%20Samman.pdf|archive-date=3 March 2016|url-status=dead}}
• Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1985){{cite web|url=http://www.sangeetnatak.org/sna/awardeeslist.htm |title=SNA: List of Akademi Awardees |publisher=Sangeet Natak Akademi Official website |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120217185616/http://www.sangeetnatak.org/sna/awardeeslist.htm |archive-date=17 February 2012 }}
• Sahitya Kala Parishad Award (1984)
• Utkal Pratibha Puraskar (1984)
• Odissi Sangeet Natak Academy (1977)
• Rajeev Gandhi Samman (2003)
• Kavi Samrat Upendra Bhanja Samman (2005)
• Biju Patnaik Samman (1993)

{{Reflist}}

• {{cite journal|last=Raut|first=(Guru) Mayadhar|author2=Leela Venkataraman |title=Guru Mayadhar Raut|journal=Sruti|date=February 2006|issue=257|url=http://www.sruti.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=4_6&products_id=228}}
• Odissi Yaatra : The Journey of Guru Mayadhar Raut, by Aadya Kaktikar (ed. Madhumita Raut) Publisher: B.R. Rhythms, Delhi,2010. {{ISBN|978-81-88827-21-3}}.
• [http://www.madhumitaraut.com/] Madhumita Raut
• [http://www.thehindu.com/arts/dance/article1011682.ece] Reviving Odissi with a focus on the classical The Hindu 28 December 2010
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20170220061207/http://www.artindia.net/mudgal1.html] Delectable depiction of Navararas by N K MUDGAL
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20120425093017/http://www.eventsinindia.com/events/12787-4th-guru-shishya-parampara-dance-festival] 4th Guru Shishya Parampara Dance Festival Delhi
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20120518002852/http://www.narthaki.com/info/prv10/prv396.html] Celebrating Guru Mayadhar Raut's 80th birthday 23–25 July 2010 New Delhi
• {{YouTube|Kg6RmFbgIQc|Documentary on Guru Mayadhar Raut}}
• [http://www.narthaki.com/info/tdhc/tdhc20.html] Guru Mayadhar Raut - Ashish Mohan Khokar, Bangalore, India. The Mohan Khokar Dance Collection 30 July 2010
• [http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?211309] Arts & Entertainment Outlook Magazine April 9, 2001
• Odissi: What, Why and How : Evolution, Revival & Technique by Madhumita Raut, Published B.R.Rhythms, Delhi, 2007. {{ISBN|81-88827-10-X}}.

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• [http://www.jayantika.com/] Jayantika
• {{IMDb name| 4236515}}
• [http://www.narthaki.com/info/tdhc/tdhc20.html] Guru Mayadhar Raut, by Ashish Mohan Khokar, Narthaki.com, 30 July 2010

{{Padma Shri Award Recipients in Art}}

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Category:1930 births

Category:2025 deaths

Category:Odissi exponents

Category:Teachers of Indian classical dance

Category:Dancers from Odisha

Category:People from Cuttack district

Category:Indian classical choreographers

Category:Recipients of the Padma Shri in arts

Category:Recipients of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award

Category:20th-century Indian educators

Category:20th-century Indian dancers

Category:Educators from Odisha