संघ [ saṃgha ] [ saṃ-gha ] m. ( fr. [ sam ] + √ [ han ] ) " close contact or combination " , any collection or assemblage , heap , multitude , quantity , crowd , host , number (generally with gen. pl. or ifc. , e.g. [ muni-s ] , " a multitude of sages " Lit. BhP. ; [ śatru-s ] , a host of enemies Lit. Rājat.) Lit. MBh. Lit. Kāv.

any number of people living together for a certain purpose , a society , association , company , community

a clerical community , congregation , church Lit. Mn. Lit. Sāh.

(esp.) the whole community or collective body or brotherhood of monks ( with Buddhists ; also applied to a monkish fraternity or sect among Jainas) Lit. Buddh. Lit. Sarvad. Lit. MWB. 176.