pran

Pran, often transliterated prāṇa, is a Sanskrit term for the life force or vital energy that permeates living beings. In Hindu philosophy, yoga, and Ayurveda, prāṇa is the essential energy associated with breathing and the maintenance of life. Traditional texts describe prāṇa as moving through energy channels and centers, with several functional expressions sometimes listed as prāṇa, apāna, samāna, udāna, and vyāna.

In practice, prāṇa is closely linked to breath and is central to practices such as pranayama, the deliberate regulation of breath to influence physical health and mental state. The concept is often used to explain how breathing techniques affect vitality, circulation, and balance within the body and mind.

Pran is also the stage name of the Indian actor Pran Krishan Sikdar (1920–2013). Born in the Bengal Presidency, he became one of Hindi cinema’s most renowned figures for portraying villains, later taking on character roles across decades. He received India's Padma Bhushan for his contributions to cinema.

As a personal name, Pran is used in parts of South Asia, especially in India, Bangladesh, and Nepal. The name is often linked to prāṇa and carries connotations of life, vitality, or breath.