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Gokaṇṇa

1. Gokaṇṇa.– A locality in Sri Lanka and a vihāra founded by Mahāsena, on the site of a Hindu temple (Mhv.xxxvii.41). According to the Mahāvaṃsa Ṭīkā (p.685), it was on the east coast of Sri Lanka. Elsewhere (p.269), the Subcommentary (ṭīkā) speaks of a Gokaṇṇa-tittha in the neighbourhood of the estuary of the Mahākandara-nadī, and the Cūḷavaṃsa (lxxi.18) mentions Gokaṇṇa as the last of a series of fords in Rohaṇa, important from a strategic point of view, along the Mahāvāḷuka­gaṅgā, from “Sarogāma-tittha to Gokaṇṇa.” In another passage (Cv.xli.79), Gokaṇṇa(ka) is spoken of as mahaṇṇava (the ocean). These facts support Geiger’s conjecture (Cv. Trs.i.59, 4; n.316, n.2) that Gokaṇṇa refers to the Trincomalee (Koddiyar) Bay at the estuary of the Mahāvāḷukagaṅgā.

Gokaṇṇa(ka) is twice described as the scene of magic rites, once in the case of Mahānāga (Cv.xli.79) and again in that of Mānavamma (Cv.lvii.5).

Aggabodhi V built a meditation hall (padhānaghara) for the Gokaṇṇa-vihāra. Cv.xlviii.5.

2. Gokaṇṇa.– A general of Gajabāhu who defeated Kittisirimegha; he had his headquarters in Kālavāpi, of which place he was Nagaragiri. At a meeting between him and Parakkamabāhu at Buddhagāma, the latter won him over to his side. An amusing story is told of a dream he had after his promise of help to Parakkamabāhu (Cv.lxvi.47 ff). He fled, therefore, to Kālavāpi and, on various occasions, offered battle to the forces of Parakkamabāhu, but everywhere he was defeated, the worst reverse being at Nīlagala by the general Māyāgeha. After that he built a fortification in Kālavāpi, where he lived in comparative quiet. The last we hear of him is of his incitement of Mānābharaṇa to seize the throne (Cv.lxiii.34; lxvi.35 ff, 62; lxx.68, 71, 83, 257). Geiger thinks (Cv. Trs i.255, n.3) that Gokaṇṇa is probably a clan name.

3. Gokaṇṇa.– A general of Parakkamabāhu I mentioned among leaders of the expedition which he sent to South India. Cv.lxxvi.253, 270, 324‑6.