As a deity name
Name 204 of the Hanuman Sahasranāma — Rasvin Samhita / Brahmanda Purana, as taught by Lord Ram / Sages
Name 365 of the Krishna Sahasranāma — Mahabharata / Padma Purana, as taught by Sages and Devotees
Name 552 of the Narasimha Sahasranāma — Brahmanda Purana / Narasimha Purana, as taught by Sages to Assembly of Devotees
Name 211 of the Surya Sahasranāma — Bhavishya Purana, as taught by Lord Brahma / Sages
As a Hindi name
No reading on this path — this spelling has no entry in our Hindi sources, and no near neighbour is attested there either. We say so rather than invent one.
As a Sanskrit word
Meaning
the breath of life, breath, respiration, spirit, vitality
Scripturally attested Verified split — attested membersMultiple readings (6)Why this matches what you typed
M1 · same meaning "prāṇāya" is the dative of "prāṇa" — the same word in a different grammatical case.
M3 · meaning shifts "prāṇa" is derived from "prāṇ" with the aṇ/añ suffix — a related word whose meaning shifts, so both meanings are shown.
prāṇ or prān (pra-√ an) P. prāṇiti (Pāṇ. viii, 4, 19, Sch.; impf. prāṇat, vii, 3, 99, Sch.) or prāniti (Vop.), to breathe in, inhale, KenUp.; to breathe, RV.; AV.; ŚBr.; Up.; to blow (as the wind), AitBr.; to live, AV.; Bhaṭṭ.; to smell, Śaṃk. : Caus. prāṇayati (aor. prāṇiṇat, Pāṇ. viii, 4, 21, Sch.), to cause to breathe, animate, AV.; Bhaṭṭ. : Desid. prāṇiṇiṣati, Pāṇ. viii, 4, 21, Sch.
prāṇ mfn. breathing, Pāṇ. viii, 4, 20, Sch.
1. prāṇa mfn. (for 2. See p. 705, col. 1.) filled, full, L.
2. prāṇa m. (ifc. f(ā). ; for 1. See under √ prā, p. 701) the breath of life, breath, respiration, spirit, vitality
Related forms
Dictionary citations
1. prāṇa mfn. (for 2. See p. 705, col. 1.) filled, full, L.
2. prāṇa m. (ifc. f(ā). ; for 1. See under √ prā, p. 701) the breath of life, breath, respiration, spirit, vitality
prāṇ or prān (pra-√ an) P. prāṇiti (Pāṇ. viii, 4, 19, Sch.; impf. prāṇat, vii, 3, 99, Sch.) or prāniti (Vop.), to breathe in, inhale, KenUp.; to breathe, RV.; AV.; ŚBr.; Up.; to blow (as the wind), AitBr.; to live, AV.; Bhaṭṭ.; to smell, Śaṃk. : Caus. prāṇayati (aor. prāṇiṇat, Pāṇ. viii, 4, 21, Sch.), to cause to breathe, animate, AV.; Bhaṭṭ. : Desid. prāṇiṇiṣati, Pāṇ. viii, 4, 21, Sch.
prāṇ mfn. breathing, Pāṇ. viii, 4, 20, Sch.
Alternative readings
More than one analysis survives full verification. That ambiguity is real, so we show every reading rather than pick one silently.
Caveats
Sources contain errors and engines have limits; every claim above carries its citation so you can verify it. This is guidance about names and their sources — not religious or astrological consultation. How we work · Our sources