Born on 13^th Jan 1940, Sri S Venkataswaran (better known as Venkatesa Bhagavathar) hails from Athoor, Dindigul, Madurai. From the very early boyhood, he showed keen interest in participating with Namasankeertanam and Sampradaya Bhajan groups in and around Madurai. His early Gurunathars were Advocate Sriman Rajagopala Iyengar of Sri Padmalaya Bhajan Mandali, Madurai. Bhagavatha Paada Paamsu Sriman T V Narayana Sastrigal of Nungambakkam; and Ubhaya Vedantha Sriman Chintamani Iyengar, Chennai. It was in the early 60s, that he seriously delved into learning SampradayaHari Chennai and Sri Panduranga Bhajan Mandali, Triplicane and All India Bhagavata Sammelana and Samajam, ChennaiSeveral organisations have honored Sri Venkatesa Bhagavathar with various titles, namely ‘Bhagavatha Ratnam’ by Gnananda Seva Samajam and Sri Bhagavata Sammelana Samajam, Chennai; ‘Bhagavata Choodamani’ by Narada Gana Sabha Trust, Chennai; ‘Bhagavata Shiromani’ by All India Bhagavata Sammelana Samajam through G A Trust, Chennai. He was initiated into Nama Soothram and Unchavritti Soothram by Pooja Sri Premikendra Maharaj at Govindapuram Bhodrendral Mutt.

He has been closely associated with Pudukkotai Brahmasri Gopalakishna Bhagavata Swamy and Poojyasri Sanjeevi Bhagavathaswamy and other eminent Bhagavathars including Sriman Naat Annaji Rao, Poojyasri Haridass Giri Swamigal, Gurudasan Sri T S Krishnamurthy Bhagavathar, Chennai, Sri C H Krishna Iyer of Sri Panduran Bhajan Mandali, Chennai.