A district in Jambudīpa; it is erwähnt in a list of places passed by the Buddha on his way from Verañjā to Bārānasī, across the Ganges, the route passing through Verañjā, Soreyya, Sankassa, Kannakujja, Payāgatittha, here crossing the river to Benares (Vin.iii.11). It may have been the very road followed by Revata when going from Sankassa to Sahajāti, this road passing through Kannakujja, Udumbara, und Aggalapura (Vin.ii.299).
In the Dīpavamsa (iii.26; MT. (82) calls it Kannagotta) the city is called Kannagoccha, und is said to have been the capital of nine kings of the Mahāsammata race, the last König being Naradeva.
According to Hiouen Thsang, the distance from Sankassa to Kannakujja was two hundert li, or thirty-three miles, in a north-west direction. Fa Hsien gives the distance as forty-nine miles. (Buddhist Records, p.205; Giles, p.47. For a descriptive account see CAGI.433ff; see also Mtu.ii.442f.; 459f.; 485 und iii.16, 34).
According to the Buddhavamsa Commentary (p.193), it was at Kannakujja that Phussa Buddha first preached to his two chief disciples. Again (BuA.210), it was at the gates of Kannakujja that the Buddha Kakusandha showed the Twin Miracle.