Born in Palakkad Kerala (1925), and educated in Chennai, T. R. Viswanathan joined the Government of India Secretariat, New Delhi in 1947 and served in various ministries, beginning with the Ministry of External Affairs and retiring from the Ministry of Steel and Mines in June 1983 as Deputy Secretary and Chief Vigilance Officer.

During the last period of service, he had opportunities to travel to the Himalayas, which created an everlasting spiritual thirst in him. Immediately after retirement, he availed of opportunities to go on holy pilgrimages to Himalayan shrines including Kailas- Manasarovar.

He was initiated into Sri Vidya Upasana by his Guru, Swami Vimarsanandanatha Saraswati, a few days before his retirement from government service, changing his post retirement life into one of spiritual pursuits. Earlier, spiritual awakening came to him through satsang with holy men like Kanchi Periava, Ramana Maharishi and Swami Sivananda.

Though he was handicapped because of a voice problem, he was graced with the gift for writing which he exclusively devoted to spiritual literature.