Ahmedabad (India): An Indian man who claims divine inspiration says he has survived for 68 years without eating, drinking or relieving himself. His case has baffled doctors, who are unable to prove him an impostor.

Prahlad Jani, a 76-year-old whose extraordinary tale has won him a small band of devotees, took a dare and underwent round-the-clock surveillance at a hospital in Ahmedabad.

Clad in his trademark red sari, bangles and earrings, Jani managed to puzzle the Sterling Hospital's 400 doctors.

Neurologist Sudhir Shah said Jani was under watch for 10 days, with a closed-circuit camera running, and that doctors were convinced he did not break any of his vows, although there was no way of verifying whether Jani had pulled it off for 68 years.

"He has evidence of the formation of urine, which was reabsorbed by his bladder wall. The medical committee does not have any scientific explanation," Shah said. 

Jani said he had been blessed and heard his calling when he was eight years old.

"I get the elixir of life from the hole in my palate, which enables me to go without food and water," Jani explained.

Jani left the hospital and said he was retreating to a cave at Mount Abu in the neighbouring desert state of Rajasthan.

Another doctor, Dinesh Desai, said the hospital hoped to test Jani again to verify his claim of a hole in the palate between his mouth and nose. 

He said he wanted the ascetic to undergo experiments at Nasa, as Jani's supposed feat could come in handy for astronauts. - Sapa-AP

Source: Daily News - Africa