The Uma-Mahesvara temple at Konerirajapuram is a foundation of Sembiyan Mahadevi built in memory of her deceased husband, Gandaraditya during the reign of her son Uttama Chola (971 – 988 CE). The temple was built in or before 974 CE. This is a fully developed early Chola temple. The inscriptions of these temples are telling of the role of the temples in the day-to-day life of the community. The temple was not only a place of worship but was the nerve-centre of the social, political and administrative activity. An interesting feature is the existence of a panel of portraits of the king and the queen worshipping the linga and also a portrait of the architect of the temple. Some of the finest bronzes are found in the temples of Konerirajapuram other than at Tiruvenkadu. The bronze of Bhogesvari at Konerirajapuram is perhaps the earliest of Sembiyan castings. References: B. Venkataraman, 1976, pp.16-21; M.W. Meister and M.A. Dhaky, 1953, p.181, S.R. Balasubrahmanyam, 1971, pp. 165-172