7TH July , 1981 is a memorable day in the history of Odisha. On that day , the Hera Panchami according to Hindu Calandar . Shri Jagannath Sanskrit Vishvavidayalaya was established in the holy land of Mhaprabhu Shri Jagannath , fulfilling the long aspirations of the Sanskrit lovers of the State. The credit of establishing this premier institution of Sanskrit learning goes to the then Chief Minister of Odisha Prajnana Vachaspati Sj. Janaki Ballabh Pattanayak , an eminent scholar of Sanskrit , who laid down the foundation stone at 9 A.M on 7.7.1981 at a spot of Mouza Balukhand. The inaugural function was observed ceremoniously at 10.00 A.M in the S.C.S. College premises amidst chanting of Vedic hymns, observance of scriptural rites , ringing of bells and blowing of conchshells . Sj. Gangadhar Mohapatra , the then Minister of Education and Youth services welcomed the gathering. Sj. C.M.Poonacha , the then Governor and Chancellor of Universities of Odisha delivered the inaugural speech and Sj. J.B.Pattanayak was the Chief Speaker of the function . Prof. Prahallad Pradhan , the founder Vice Chancellor of the Vishvavidyalaya proposed the vote of thanks .

Shri Jagannath Sanskrit Vishvavidyalaya , named after the premier Deity of the eastern region Mahaptabhu Shri Jagannath , is the third sanskit university of the country next to Sampurnananda Sanskrit University of Benaras and Kameswar Singh Sanskrit University of Darabhanga . The Vishvavidyalaya office started functioning on 14th August 1981 in the annexe to the Raj Bhaban , Puri with its founder Kulapati Prof. Prahallad Pradhan and founder kulasachiva Prof. Trilochan Mishra with establishment of the Vishvavidyalaya , provision was made through an ordinance for the appointment of the university statutory bodies , such as Adhisad (Syndicate) , the Samsad (Senate) and the Vidya Parishad (Academic Council) through the nomination by the Kuladhipati (Chancellor) . The first Adhisad had 12 members , the first Samsad has 62 members and the first Vidya PArisad had 40 members . Post Graudate classes in six departments , namely Sahitya , Vyakarana , Dharmashastra , Sarvdarshan , Nyaya and Advaita Vedanta were inaugurated in rented building with 12 rooms .

With the creation of Sanskrit Vishvavidyalaya , 142 Sanskrit institutions of the state including 5 Mahavidyalayas and 137 Vidyalayas , Pathasalas and Tools offering Prathama , Madhyama , Upashastri , Shastri and Acharya courses came under this Vishvavidyalaya .

The academic arena has registered a spectaculars growth in the Vishvavdiyalaya . Its establishment has helped to revive the glorious ancient traditions of Odisha in the field of Ssnskrit language. Literature and heritage learning. Right from its inception , the Vishvavidyalaya has dedicated itself to the cause of reserving and promoting studeies and research in Sanskrit .

The Vishvavidyalaya has a glorious record in the field of research in Sanskrit. Three research projects namely

i.) Compilation of Encyclopedia of religion

ii.) Collection and publication of palm leaf manuscripts

iii) Advance studies on Mahaprabhu Shri Jagnnath

started functioning in November 1986 by the financial support from the interest of Shri Jagannath Temple Hundi. In the year 2003-04 , Govt. released a sum of Rs. 15.00 lakh for running the Research Centre , renamed as Centre of Advance Research in Sanskrit (CARS) . The CARS was running with one Director in charge , three research officer , one clerk cum typist and one peon . Financial hurdles could not stop the research activities of the Vishvavidyala. Till today the CARS has published thirteen volumes of Research journals named “Jagannath Jyoti” and 33 books in regular intervals .

Besides the academic achievements , the Vishvavidyalaya has seen a lot of infrastructural developments during the past two decades. It is now functioning with the two glorious hall , two elegent hostels , a beautiful guest house , a health centre , a ladies gymnasium , a silver jubilee hall and many others on its hundred acre spacious campus on the beautiful sea beach. A huge auditorium , a sports complex and four officers cum teachers quarters are added to its infrastructure . The construction work of new faculty building , extension of ladies hostel building , extension of class III quarter , construction of multipurpose building , examination record room , ladies research hostel building , Vedic are in progress and shall be completed soon.