Vineet Gairola
PhD Candidate Indian Institute of Technology, HyderabadPsychology
Biographical Info
Vineet Gairola is a Ph.D. candidate in Psychology at the Indian Institute of Technology, Hyderabad, researching the ritual journeys of Devī-Devtās (Hindu deities) in the Garhwal Himalaya and the transformative experience of divine embodiment/divinization of bakkyās (oracles/diviners). During his Ph.D. tenure, Vineet has received 21 awards, delivered 25 international conference presentations, and published 49 works, including 32 book reviews, 6 book chapters, and 6 articles in esteemed journals. He is the Book Review Editor of Springer’s Journal of Dharma Studies (2025-Present), the International Relations Committee (IRC) member of APA (Division 39), and the Student Development Committee member of APA (Division 29).
Recent Book Chapter Publication: Positive Practices Within Hinduism | SpringerLink
Recent Article: The Rhythms of Tradition: Understanding Ḍhol Sāgar and Drumming Knowledge in Garhwal Himalaya
Keywords representing his research and interests in psychological anthropology: Garhwal Himalaya, divine embodiment, psychology of religion, Central Himalaya, ethnography of deity possession