A significant variation of an Advaita-Vritti (a commentary on non-dualist philosophy) has been found in a family archive in Alwar, Rajasthan. Dating to approximately 1140 CE, the manuscript diverges from standard interpretations of the time by emphasizing the social application of non-dualism. Unlike later ascetic traditions that prioritized withdrawal from the world, this text argues that the realization of "Oneness" must manifest as active Seva (service) and the removal of social hierarchies.
Scholars at the Rajasthan Oriental Research Institute are currently translating the text, which they believe was written by a scholar associated with the early Nath or Siddha traditions. The manuscript includes a compelling chapter on the "Ethics of Equanimity," which provides logical arguments against caste distinctions based on the fundamental non-duality of the Atman. This discovery reshapes our understanding of the social implications of Vedantic philosophy in medieval Northern India.