Man Claims He Hasn't Eaten in 70 Years

CANVAS STAFF REPORTS) - Indian military scientists and doctors are baffled by an elderly hermit who claims to have survived without food or water for more than 70 years.

Telegraph reports that Prahlad Jani, an 82-year-old self-professed holy man who says an Indian goddess gave him survival powers when he was eight, remains in perfect health after going a week without food or water while under the strict observation of the Indian military in a private hospital.

Doctors say Jani's body has shown none of the ill effects of hunger or dehydration. The octogenarian remains spry and shows no sign of lethargy.

Jani says he is a "breatharian," someone who can live on "spiritual life force" alone. He says that his powers come from the goddess Amba, who pours a magic elixir into a hole in his palate, according to the Telegraph .

Jani says since he was a child he has survived as a wandering sadhu, or holy man, in the Indian state of Rajasthan, which encompasses the large, inhospitable Great Indian Desert.

India's Defense Research Development Organization says Prahlad's remarkable gift could help the military to teach survival techniques in adverse conditions to soldiers or disaster victims.

" If his claims are verified, it will be a breakthrough in medical science ," Dr. G. Ilavazhagan, director of the Defense Institute of Physiology & Allied Sciences told a recent news conference. Neurologist Sudhir Shah calls Jani's case a "unique phenomena."

"I want to tell you that we are all watching a miracle in the science, or biology so to say," says Shah, adding that Jani generates urine in his bladder even though he does not drink water. Neurological exams show Jani has the brain functions of a 25-year-old, Shah says.

Doctors will continue observing Radi for another two weeks, at which time they would expect to see muscle wastage, serious dehydration, weight loss and likely organ failure.

It is common in India for Jains and Hindus to fast, sometimes for up to eight days, without any adverse affects, as part of their religious worship. Most humans cannot survive without food for 50 days, while the longest modern recorded hunger strike lasted 68 days .


Bron: http://www.myfoxny.com/dp(...)-20100430-fc_7305692