Athancode Asan was a poet of the Sangam period. He was born at Athancode near Kaliyakkavilai of Kanyakumari District of Tamil Nadu. He lived during the end of the Sangam period. Tamil's first grammar book Tolkappaim was officially released under his presidency. He had 12 disciples. Notable among them are Tolkappiar and Agatiar. He was honored with a statue unveiled by then chief minister of Tamil Nadu MGR in 1984 and with a library that opened there by 1986.