How many types of prann are there
In Jainism, prāṇa refers to the vitalities or life-forces that are present in living beings (jīvas). According to Jain philosophy, there are ten types of prāṇas (vitalities):
- Śarīra-prāṇa (body-vitality)
- Indriya-prāṇa (sense-vitality; each sense has its own prāṇa, totaling five: touch, taste, smell, sight, hearing)
- Manaḥ-prāṇa (mind-vitality)
- Vāk-prāṇa (speech-vitality)
- Prāṇa-prāṇa (respiration-vitality)
- Āyuḥ-prāṇa (life-duration-vitality)
To summarize, the ten prāṇas are:
- Body
- Touch
- Taste
- Smell
- Sight
- Hearing
- Mind
- Speech
- Respiration
- Life-duration
The presence and number of these vitalities depend on the type of living being (from one-sensed to five-sensed beings). For example, a single-sensed being (like a plant) possesses only some of these prāṇas, while a five-sensed being with mind (like humans) possesses all ten.
References:
- Tattvartha Sutra (Jain canonical text)
- Jainism: The World of Conquerors by Natubhai Shah