Anirudh Sharma
M.Sc. Applied Psychology, 2023, Chinmaya Vishwavidyapeeth, Kochi, B.A. Psychology- Mass Communication- Modern Language, Roots College (Affiliated to Osmania University), Hyderabad.Ph.D. Scholar
Anirudh Sharma
M.Sc. Applied Psychology, 2023, Chinmaya Vishwavidyapeeth, Kochi, B.A. Psychology- Mass Communication- Modern Language, Roots College (Affiliated to Osmania University), Hyderabad.Psychology, as it has evolved to be today, allows one to examine some deeply philosophical questions with a scientific temperament. As a student of Psychology, along with my inclination towards Indian Philosophy, I have had a calling towards understanding some principles of human behaviour and consciousness in a more holistic sense. Whereas there has been a good amount of research in understanding and integrating Yoga and Vedanta alongside other Eastern traditions such as Buddhism and Jainism in Psychology, I find that the ‘Bhakti’ tradition has not been as deeply explored. Traditionally, the path or the practices of Bhakti are considered much more simplistic, flexible and practical than any others. This is what drives me to explore different phenomena in Bhakti as they are experienced by people as behaviours, emotions, thoughts and other experiences. During my Masters’ my dissertation was a Grounded Theory study exploring the characteristics and attitudes in bhakti which gave me clarity on the various frameworks that such a phenomenon can be studied with, as well as the limitations that studies can have in capturing a phenomenon as subtle as this. I strongly believe that the insights of the Shaastras (philosophical texts) along with the scientific temperament that psychology brings with it, creates the right framework to explore this phenomenon. My aim is to be able to develop a deeper understanding of Bhakti in order to be able to develop a psychological understanding of its experience and create interventions and practices to enhance wellbeing of individuals based on its principles.
Anirudh Sharma is pursuing his Ph.D. in Psychology under the guidance of Prof. Ashok H.S. He is conducting research in the field of Indian Psychology with a particular interest in studying ‘Bhakti’ as a phenomenon.
In his year as a Research Assistant to Dr. Vinayachandra Banavathy at the Centre for Indian Knowledge Systems (CIKS) at Chanakya University in 2024, he worked on a project on developing online courses for training teachers in the field of Indian Psychology – integrating holistic perspectives on health and wellbeing from Indian Philosophy. During this time, he also published a paper titled “Psychological Exploration of Avadhānam–The Indic Art of Attention” alongside the faculty at the CIKS which is a unique and first of its kind study bringing the Indian literary artform of Avadhanam into the realm of psychology.
Anirudh has also assisted (and continues to assist) Dr. Banavathy in teaching University courses on the Bhagavad-gita, Upanishads and Introduction to Psychology.
He is currently working on his Ph.D. and publishing studies in associated subjects in Indian Psychology.
- M.Sc. Applied Psychology, 2023, Chinmaya Vishwavidyapeeth, Kochi
- B.A. Psychology- Mass Communication- Modern Language, Roots College (Affiliated to Osmania University), Hyderabad.
- A. Sharma, R. Pejathaya, N. Bhat, and V. Banavathy, “Psychological Exploration of Avadhānam – The Indic Art of Attention,” Journal of Applied Consciousness Studies, vol. 13, no. 1, pp. 12–22, Jan. 2025, doi: https://doi.org/10.4103/jacs.jacs_152_24.
- A. Sharma and K. R. Shanmughan, “Emotional Intelligence and Learning Style of Tabla and Pakhawaj Artists,” Universitypublication.in, Jun. 30, 2024. https://universitypublication.in/2024/06/30/emotional-intelligence-and-learning-style-of-tabla-and-pakhawaj-artists-mr-anirudh-sharma-dr-kavita-r-shanmughan/ (accessed Nov. 12, 2025).
Project 1:
- Title: Shikshaka Prashikshana Kendram
- Duration: 1 year
- Granting Agency – IKS Division – Ministry of Education, GOI
- PI: Dr. Vinayachandra Banavathy
- Purpose – Online Course Development
- Short Description – Worked on developing online courses on ‘Holistic Health and Wellbeing in the Indic tradition’ and ‘Neuroscience and Yoga’
- Status: Ongoing
- Grant Amount: –
- Recipient – Pandit Jasraj – Rotary club Scholarship for Music and Fine Arts (2016)
- Fellow, IndianRaga (since 2017)
- Finalist – Yuva Sangharsh – National Youth leadership Contest – Ramakrishna Math, Hyderabad (2017)