Orissa boasts of a long and rich literary tradition. The first manifestation of Oriya literature was in the form of lyrics in Apabhransa literature. In this connection 'Buddha gana o doha' containing the poems of Kanhu pa, Lui pa, Sabari pa etc., the famous Buddha ascetics, may be cited. These poems are of the 9th and 10th century. The theories and principles of Vajrayana or Sahajayana of Buddhistic school of philosophy have been depicted in these short poems.

Balarama, Jagannath, Yasobanta and Ananta (the famous devotional poets of the 16th century and others were the successors of the ancient mystic, religious and poetic tradition. We find the echo of the Buddistic Charyagiti in their poems popularily known as 'Sarirabheda Bhajana'.

During 15th and 16th centuries, after the decline of Buddhism, the spread of Vaisnavism in this land knew no bounds. An unprecedented enthusiasm to create literature in fold language instead of Sanskrit was felt among the people. Many legends and stories took shape centering round the worship of Lord Jagannath. After Orissa lost its independence in 1568 many poets wrote devotional poems and strenghened the foundation of Oriya lyrics.

Oriya devotional poetries are popularly known as ']anana' and 'Bhajana'. In 'Bhajana', the name, form, qualities and the activities of the deities are generally described. On the other hand in 'Janana' we find the earnest hope and desire of the devotee depicted along with the description of the supernatural power of the gods and goddesses worshipped. The devotional poems in the morning are popularily called 'Prabhata Avakasa'.

In the devotional poems of Nirguna school of thought we find the prayer and contemplation of Nirguna Brahman. These poems in general are mystic in character.

The poems of Bhima Bhoi and of the poets belonging to Bramho religion, may be classified as the devotional lyrics of Nirguna school. Most of the devotional songs are written in fold metre, codified classical Raga and Tala are not employed. The hymns on the goddesses are known as 'Malashree' in Orissa. These poems are generally written in Malashree Raga (Metre).

CHAUPADI OR SONGS:
The songs composed according to the rules of Raga and Tala were called 'Chaupadi' probably because they consisted of four padas. Through the origin of the songs can be traced to 15th century, the real development took place in the 17th and the 18th centuries. Dhananjoy Bhanja (1637-1701), Dinabandhu Hari Chandan (17th century), Upendra Bhanja (1676-1720), Biswanath Khuntia (18th century), Banamali Patanaik (18th century), Nrusingh Patanaik (17th century), Rama Krushna Patanaik (18th century), Kavisurya Baladeva Rath (1789-1845), Gopal Krushna Patanaik (17851856), Gour Charan Adhikari (18141890), etc. enriched Oriya lyrics through their thousands of lyrical composition.

In Oriya 'Chaupadi' we find the use of about a hundred types of Raga and ten types of Tala. Choupadis are mostly of love themes either about human love or the divine love of Radha and Krishna.

In ancient and medieval era poems were composed in alphabetic sequence in praise of gods and goddesses. These poems were composed in the alphabetic order of Oriya consonants. This form of poetical composition popularly known as 'Chautisa' gained immense popularitv for four centuries beginning from 15th to the middle of the 19th century. This can well be proved from the hundreds of Chautisa written during this period. Dinakrushna Das (17th century), Upendra Bhanja (18th century), Bhima Bhoi (19th century), Shyama Ghana (19th century) etc. are some of the notable poets who handled this form most successfully. 
Many lyrical compositions, in the model of Sataka and Astaka of Sanskrit verse form, were also written in ancient Oriya literature. One of these types called 'Padi' or 'Padia' generally depicts the pangs of separation.

Like the Saudesha Kavya or Duta Kavya of Sanskrit literature 'Koili' form of poetry was very popular in ancient Oriya literature. Generally the poems addressed to Cuckoo are called 'Koili'. Most of the Koili poems are written according to the rules of consonant sequence.

Another ancient form of lyrics is known as 'Boli' in which a short story is depicted in a simple manner. This form may be regarded as the ancient ballad or narrative poem. The epistolary form of poetry in ancient and medieval Oriya literature was called 'Chitau' in which the emotion or mental anxiety of the sender is depicted or some message is sent to a dear one staying abroad. Ancient poets like Upendra Bhanja, Kavisurya Baladeva Ratha, Padmanabha Shreechandan etc., have written many 'Chitaus'.

The poetical form named 'Baramasi' was also popular in ancient and medieval literature 'Bachanika' is a variety of ancient poetic form written in a dialogue form. Songs known as Laxmi-Narayana Bachanika' and 'Gopalanka Ogala' are forms of poetic dialogue of medieval period.

Traditional songs recited by ladies at different stages of marriage celebration were known as 'Mangala Geeta'. These songs depict the mariage rituals of Rama and Sita. Besides humorous and satirical songs known as 'Dhamali Geeta' were also composed during the ancient and medieval period.

A composition of a bunch of poems depicting a single theme is another feature of the ancient Oriya lyrics. 'Poi' is one of the examples of this form. If there are sixteen poems in a bunch, the bunch is known as 'Sola Poi' or sixteen small poems. So we find 'Dasa Poi', 'Na Poi', 'China Poi' etc. according to the number of poems it contains.