A sabhā in Ancient India was an assembly, congregation, or council. Personified as a deity, Sabhā is a daughter of Prajapati in the Atharvaveda.

In Epic Sanskrit, the term refers also to an assembly0hall or council-chamber, and to a hostel, eating-house or gambling-house.

Monier-Williams compares the word to Old English sibb "clan" (Old High German sippa), in Modern English surviving in the term gossip (from god-sib).

History of India