His name Kaniyan implies that he was an Kaala Kanithar (astronomer) (kaala kanitham in Tamil literally means mathematics of date, time and place). Kaniyan Poongunranar, also Poongundranar or Pungundranar (Tamil: கணியன் பூங்குன்றனார், Kaṉiyan Pūngunṟanār ?), was an influential Tamil philosopher from the Sangam age from around 6th century BCE.Virtually all subsequent Indian, especially South Indian, philosophy (en).

Mahibalanpatti, Sivaganga district, Tamil Nadu, India (en).Uncertain probably around 6th century BCE.dbr:Sandham:_Symphony_Meets_Classical_Tamil.The first musical form of Yaadhum Oore poem by composer Rajan Somasundaram was chosen as the theme song of 10th World Tamil Conference from the album Sandham: Symphony Meets Classical Tamil and was featured in Amazon's Top#10 International Music albums. J Abdul Kalam was the first one to quote this famous quote in European Union Historical Speech by Abdul Kalam in European Union and the another one is Narendra Modi who quoted it in 74th Session of the UN General Assembly. Ponnambalam concluded his 1966 address to the 21st session of the United Nations General Assembly by invoking this quote. His famous Tamil quote 'Yaadhum Oore Yaavarum Kelir' is at present depicted in the United Nations Organisation. He composed two poems in Puṟanāṉūṟu and Natrinai.

Kaniyan was born and brought up in Mahibalanpatti, a village panchayat in Tamil Nadu's Sivaganga district.

Yaathum oore yaavarum kelir in tamil