A set of five copper plates, bound by a royal seal of the Vakataka dynasty, has been recovered from a site in Maharashtra’s Vidarbha region. The plates contain a text titled 'Bodha-Darshana', which presents a systematic discourse on the nature of 'Awakened Insight.' The philosophy outlined on the plates suggests that human suffering stems from a 'fragmented vision' of reality, and that wisdom is the process of restoring the 'undivided sight' of the Atman (self) within the diverse phenomena of the world.
The text is notable for its use of optical metaphors, comparing the mind to a mirror that must be polished to reflect the true light of consciousness. It also outlines an early ethical system based on 'Perceptual Compassion,' where recognizing the self in others becomes the foundation for social harmony. Dr. Sanjay Kulkarni of the Deccan College noted that these plates provide the earliest known usage of certain technical terms in Advaita philosophy that were previously thought to have originated centuries later.