The affix ghañ comes after the roots ci 'to collect' and ka is the substitute of the initial ca in the sense of 'a multitude or assembly' (of living beings possessing some common characteristics) but not merely a confused crowd of men.,
The word सङ्घ means a collection or assembly of living beings. It is of two sorts:- either by collection of persons possessing common qualifications, or a mere confused crowd of men. The collection denoting a confused crowd is here excepted and by paryudasa negation the other is taken. Thus भिक्षुकनिकायः 'the assembly of beggars'; ब्राह्मणनिकायः 'the assembly of Brahmanas'; वैयाकरणनिकायाः 'the assembly of Grammarians'.
But सूकरनिचयः 'a herd of hogs'; because it is a mere collection. So also कृताकृतसमुच्चयः 'the collection of what is done and not done'; प्रमाणसमुच्चयः 'the collection of proofs'. Here there is no सङ्घ in either of the two senses, it not being a collection of living animals, the affix ghan is not employed.,