Garan(伽藍) in Japanese is an abbreviated form of the expression sōgya ranma(僧伽欄摩), itself a transliteration of the Sanskrit saMghaaraama (सँघाराम), literally meaning "garden for monks". A Japanese garan was originally just a park where monks gathered together with their teacher, but the term later came to mean "Buddist temple". When the temple's compound consisted of various buildings, it was called a shichidō garan(七堂伽藍seven hall temple).