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suññāgārānaṁ

suññāgāra

nominative plural neuter, compound noun

1. empty hall
2. vacant chamber
3. secluded dwelling

Built from

• suññā — stem · empty, void
  Adjective meaning without contents or form, often used in doctrinal contexts for non-self (anattā) and emptiness of intrinsic nature.
• gāra — stem · house, chamber
  Noun denoting an enclosed dwelling place; here compounds with suññā to form a canonical image of meditative seclusion.

Analysis. suññā (empty, devoid) + gāra (house, chamber). A place of solitude for meditation practice, frequently mentioned in the Suttas as a location for jhāna cultivation.

Etymology. suññā is the feminine form of suññ(a), cognate with Sanskrit śūnya- (empty, void). The prefix su- (well, good, easily) + √snā (but here suññā likely derives from non-attested √sunā or √svi, empty); the concrete sense is absence of obstruction or form. gāra (house) is cognate with Sanskrit gṛha-, from √gṛ (seize, hold), hence what encloses or holds.

Meanings from the Digital Pāḷi Dictionary; morphology and etymology by Claude.

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