Sembiyan Mahadevi is a title borne by various queens of the Chola empire, who could be could be the queen mother (king's mother), grandmother, aunt, etc.

The most famous of them all is the mother of King Madurantaka Uttama Chola Deva, one of most powerful queens of the Chola empire.

Over a period of sixty years, she constructs numerous temples and gives generous gifts to many temples in South India.

In 967-968, she bestows several gifts of bronzes and jewelry to the Nallur Kandaswamy temple founded twenty years earlier, including the bronze idol of the goddess of Nallur temple worshipped today, whose style is typical of Sembiyan bronzes.

The presiding deity is Murugan, the Hindu god of war and victory, worshiped today primarily in areas with Tamil influences, especially South India, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, Malaysia, Singapore and Reunion Island.

The Nallur Kandaswamy Temple is revered in present Sri Lanka by Buddhists as well as Hindus.