Gokaṇṇa untranslated

Gokaṇṇa 01. A locality in Ceylon and a vihāra founded by Mahā Sena, on the site of a Hindu temple (Mhv.xxxvii.41). According to the Mahā Vaṁsaṭīkā (p.685), it was on the east coast of Ceylon. Elsewhere (p.269), the Ṭīkā speaks of a Gokaṇṇatittha in the neighbourhood of the estuary of the Mahā Kandaranadī, and the Cūḷa Vaṁsa (lxxi.18) mentions Gokaṇṇa as the last of a series of fords in Rohaṇa, important from a strategic point of view, along the Mahā Vāḷkaugaṅgā, from “Sarogāmatittha to Gokaṇṇa.” In another passage (Cv.xli.79), Gokaṇṇa (Gokaṇṇaka) 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 Mahā Vālukagaṅgā.

Gokaṇṇa (Gokaṇṇaka) is twice described as the scene of magic rites, once in the case of Mahā Nāga (Cv.xli.79) and again in that of Māṇavamma (Cv.lvii.5).

Aggabodhi V. built a padhānaghara for the Gokaṇṇavihāra. Cv.xlviii.5.

Gokaṇṇa 02. 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.47ff). 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 Māṇābharaṇa to seize the throne (Cv.lxiii.34; lxvi.35ff, 62; lxx.68, 71, 83, 257). Geiger thinks (Cv. Trs i.255, n.3) that Gokaṇṇa is probably a clan name.

Gokaṇṇa 03. A general of Parakkamabāhu I. mentioned among leaders of the expedition which he sent to South India. Cv.lxxvi.253, 270, 324-6.