Excavations in the Narmada Valley have led to the discovery of stone tablets from the 5th century BCE that explore the metaphysics of 'Jyoti' (Light). Unlike ritualistic texts, the 'Jyoti-Sutra' focuses on light as a metaphor for cognitive clarity and the inherent luminosity of the human soul, independent of sensory perception.
The text proposes a non-dualist framework where the 'inner sun' of the individual connects to the 'cosmic light' of the universe. Researchers believe these tablets may have belonged to an early community of forest-dwelling philosophers who prioritized internalized meditation over external fire rituals, marking a significant transition in ancient Indian wisdom traditions.