Sangraha

Sangraha is a Sanskrit term meaning a collection or gathering. Derived from the root for assembling or gathering, sangraha denotes a compilation, anthology, or handbook that brings together material from multiple sources into a concise, portable form. The concept appears across Indian literatures and traditions, where sangraha serves as a practical reference rather than an original treatise.

In practice, sangraha is used across languages to signal a text that compiles selected verses, definitions, rules, formulas, or techniques on a subject such as grammar, philosophy, astrology, Ayurveda, ritual practice, or devotional instruction. In religious and philosophical contexts, a sangraha often provides a compact overview or digest intended for study, memorization, or quick consultation.

Because the term denotes a function rather than a fixed text, numerous works and regional publications adopt sangraha as a title to indicate a compendium, sometimes tailored to a particular tradition, school, or period. In modern usage, sangraha can also appear as a proper noun, used as a given name or as part of the title of publications.

The closely related term samgraha is sometimes used interchangeably in Indian literary and scholarly contexts, with both terms broadly conveying the idea of collection or compilation.