Gokanna
1. Gokanna.- A locality in Sri Lanka and a vihÄra founded by MahÄsena, on the site of a Hindu temple (Mhv.xxxvii.41). According to the MahÄvaṃsa TÄ«kÄ (p.685), it was on the east coast of Sri Lanka. Elsewhere (p.269), the TÄ«kÄ speaks of a Gokannatittha in the neighbourhood of the estuary of the MahÄkandara-nadÄ«, and the CÅ«lavaṃsa (lxxi.18) mentions Gokanna as the last of a series of fords in Rohana, important from a strategic point of view, along the MahÄ-vÄlkaugaá¹…gÄ, from “SarogÄmatittha to Gokanna.†In another passage (Cv.xli.79), Gokanna(ka) is spoken of as mahannava (the ocean). These facts support Geiger’s conjecture (Cv. Trs.i.59, 4; n.316, n.2) that Gokanna refers to the Trincomalee (Koddiyar) Bay at the estuary of the MahÄvÄlukagaá¹…gÄ.
Gokanna(ka) is twice described as the scene of magic rites, once in the case of MahÄnÄga (Cv.xli.79) and again in that of MÄnavamma (Cv.lvii.5).
Aggabodhi V built a padhÄnaghara for the Gokanna-vihÄra. Cv.xlviii.5.
2. Gokanna.- A general of GajabÄhu who defeated Kittisirimegha; he had his headquarters in KÄlavÄpi, of which place he was Nagaragiri. At a meeting between him and ParakkamabÄhu at BuddhagÄma, the latter won him over to his side. An amusing story is told of a dream he had after his promise of help to ParakkamabÄhu (Cv.lxvi.47ff). He fled, therefore, to KÄlavÄpi and, on various occasions, offered battle to the forces of ParakkamabÄhu, but everywhere he was defeated, the worst reverse being at NÄ«lagala by the general MÄyÄgeha. After that he built a fortification in KÄlavÄpi, where he lived in comparative quiet. The last we hear of him is of his incitement of MÄnÄbharana to seize the throne (Cv.lxiii.34; lxvi.35ff, 62; lxx.68, 71, 83, 257). Geiger thinks (Cv. Trs i.255, n.3) that Gokanna is probably a clan name.
3. Gokanna.- A general of ParakkamabÄhu I mentioned among leaders of the expedition which he sent to South India. Cv.lxxvi.253, 270, 324-6.
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