They were developed to provide facilities necessary for monks to live as a group but at the same time to provide enough seclusion so as not to disturb their privacy and meditation (see the section on Vihara).
多数の修道僧の団体生活に必要な施設を整備すると同時に、個人の私生活を守り、瞑想に適するように整備された（「精舎」の項参照）。