This is a memorial(though not a temple, I would call it the temple of justice) to commemorate the Chola ruler, Manuneethi Cholan who is known for his justice. As his name goes, for him dharma was important than anything. He is known for his unbiased judgements. The incident goes likes this:
He had a huge bell installed in front of his palace and anyone seeking justice had to ring the bell. The king would immediately hear the case and dispense his verdict without delay purely on merit. One day he had to face a very strange situation.
One...
more... day his son, Veedhividangan, on his way to the temple in a chariot, was being cheered by the crowd by way of beating drums, etc. In the midst of loud noise and commotion, a terrified stray calf ran here and there and at last got crushed under the wheels of the prince's chariot. The mother cow, sad and shocked, walked to the palace and rang the huge bell demanding justice from the king. The king came out, saw the cow and learned from his courtiers the death of the young calf under the wheels of his son's chariot. King Manuneethi Cholan, upon hearing the case, ordered that his son be killed for his recklessness by killing the prince under the wheels of the same chariot which ran over the calf.He rode in it himself to the spot where the calf had met with its death, and there put an end to the life of his own son by driving the chariot over him.He thus upheld that before the court of law, everybody was equal be they humans or even non-humans.
Such was the righteousness that prevailed in the great era of the Cholas on the Tamil land. This happened before the birth of Christ.