A cave in the region of the Himálaya, according to one description (J.ii.176; but see J.v.357, where it is said to be near Cittakúta) in the face of the Cittakúapabbata. This cave was the abode of the Bodhisatta when he was born as a lion, as described in the Virocana Játaka (J.i.491f), and again in the Sigála Játaka (J.ii.6). Near by was the Rajatapabbata. This cave was also the dwelling-place of the geese mentioned in the Kacchapa Játaka (J.ii.176), and in the cave grew the Abbhanta-ramba (J.ii.396), the property of Vessavana. In the scholiast to the Hatthipála Játaka (J.iv.484), the Kańcanagúha is mentioned as the abode of the spider Unnábhi and the ninety-six thousand geese who took shelter in it, waiting for the rains to clear. Near the cave was the Chaddantadaha and the Buddha, when he was born as the elephant Chaddanta, made the cave his headquarters (J.v.37f). In this context the cave is described as being in the Suvannapabbata (probably another name for Kańcanapabbata) to the west of the Chaddanta lake, and is said to be twelve leagues in extent. There lived the elephant king with eight thousand companions. Nandatápasa once lived for seven days at the entrance to the cave, going to Uttarakuru for his food (J.v.316, 392).
The Pákahamsas of great power also lived in the cave (J.v.357, 368), once as many in number as ninety thousand (J.v.381).
In the Sudhábhojana Játaka (J.v.392), the cave is stated to have been on the top of Manosilátala.
The Kańcanagúha is mentioned in literature as the dwelling-place of maned lions (kesarasíhá) (E.g., UdA.71, 105).