Sembiyan Mahadevi: 10th Century Chola Queen

Sembiyan Mahadevi / Image Credit

Sembiyan Mahadevi was the wife of the Chola ruler Gandaraditya Chola who succeeded to the Chola throne in 955 AD. At the time of Gandaraditya’s reign, the Chola kingdom was reduced to the size of a principality. Gandaraditya, with his wife Sembiyan Mahadevi, is more known for his work in the field of culture and religion. 

Sembiyan Mahadevi was the mother of Uttama Chola who had become the Chola ruler in 973 after the death of the incumbent Chola monarch Parantaka Chola II who succeeded his father Arinjaya who became the ruler after the death of his brother Gandaraditya.

Sembiyan Mahadevi was instrumental in constructing many temples in South India including the Umamaheswarar  at Konerirajapuram, 30min drive from Kumbakonam In Tamil Nadu. Umamaheswarar temple has been the famous abode  of Lord Nataraja.