Dr. C. R. Swaminathan, M.A., Ph.D., an acknowledged Sanskrit and Vedic scholar, belongs to the well known Karyakar family of Chathapuram, Palakkad. Serving the cause of education, he was instrumental in initiating special schemes for preservation of the oral tradition of Vedic studies and establishment of the Maharshi Sandipani Rashtriya Veda Vidya Pratishthan (MSRVVP), Ujjain and most importantly, reviving a number of Veda Pathasalas in various parts of the country.

A Comparative Study of the Gita Bhashyas, the Kanva Satapatha Brahmana with English translation and the Sripada Saptathi are amongst his numerous publications.