The compound term Tib. gnas mal; Skt. śayanāsana comprises the words “dwelling” or “bed” (see Tib. gnas and mal cha; Skt. śayana) and “seating” (Tib. stan; Skt. āsana). In Vinaya usage, it refers to a monastic residence and its furnishings. The “residence caretaker” (Tib. gnas mal bstabs pa; Skt. śayanāsanaparihāra) is in charge of distributing keys for the individual “dwellings” (Tib. gnas khang; Skt. layana) on site. The term “dwelling/residence” (Tib. gnas mal; Skt. śayana) also appears in terms like bas mtha’ gnas mal, Skt. prāntaśayana (“remote residence”) and Tib. dben pa’i gnas mal (“isolated residence”).

The compound term Tib. gnas mal; Skt. śayanāsana comprises the words “dwelling” or “bed” (see Tib. gnas and mal cha; Skt. śayana) and “seating” (Tib. stan; Skt. āsana). In Vinaya usage, it refers to a monastic residence and its furnishings. The “residence caretaker” (Tib. gnas mal bstabs pa; Skt. śayanāsana­parihāra) is in charge of distributing keys for the individual “dwellings” (Tib. gnas khang; Skt. layana) on site. The term “dwelling/residence” (Tib. gnas mal; Skt. śayana) also appears in terms like bas mtha’ gnas mal, Skt. prāntaśayana (“remote residence”) and Tib. dben pa’i gnas mal (“isolated residence”).