They are further divided into the following five sub-categories. They have earthly bodies, hence the name prithwikaya which is derived from the Sanskrit term for earth, which is prithwi. Seemingly inanimate forms of different types of water are living beings. Examples are dew, fog, iceberg, rain, etc. They have water bodies, hence the name apk ya which is derived from the Sanskrit term for water, which is ap.
Examples are flames, blaze, lightening, forest fire, hot ash, etc.
They have fire bodies, hence the name teukaya which is derived from the Sanskrit term for fire, which is tejas. Examples are wind, whirlwinds, cyclones, etc. They have air bodies, hence the name vayukay which is derived from the Sanskrit term for gas, which is v yu. It is well known that plants grow, reproduce, etc., and they are accepted as living beings. Trees, plants, branches, flowers, leaves, seeds, etc. are some examples of plant life.