1. Gothakábhaya, Gothábhaya.-A king of the Rohana dynasty; son of Yatthálayakatissa and father of Kákavannatissa (Mhv.xv.170; xxii.11). He is sometimes called Abhaya. E.g., Mhv.xxiii.10, 56.
2. Gothakábhaya.-King of Ceylon (302-15 A.C.). He was a Lambakanna of Mahiyangana, and having gone to Anurádhapura with Sanghatissa and Sanghabodhi, he, with their help, slew the reigning king, Vijaya, and they reigned in succession (Mhv.xxxvi.58). Gothakábhaya became Sanghabodhi's treasurer but, seeing the king's weakness, he led a rebellion against him and captured the throne (vv.91, 98-117; for details see Sanghabodhi). In addition to other religious works, he built the Meghavannábhaya-Vihára. He banished from Abhayagiri sixty monks who had accepted the Vetulla heresy, but a Cola monk, Sanghamitta, defeated in discussion the thera Gothábhaya, the king's uncle, and became the king's favourite, obtaining the position of tutor to the king's two sons, Jetthatissa and Mahásena. The king was also known as Meghavannábhaya (v.98).