Prahlad Jani

Prahlad Jani (Jay Ambe Prahaladbhai Maganlal Jani, real name Chunriwala Mataji, called by aderents also "Mataji" or "goddess", born August 13, 1929) is an indian fakir and Jainism-follower from Gujarat who claims that he did not eat usual food or drink since he was eight years old, (meaning since 74 years in relation to today, 2010). Claims of this sort are known as Inedia. Jani himself believes in a miraculous gift of indian goddess Amba Mata, and that a mysterious fluid called "Amrit"-nectar may feed him through a "hole" in his palate.

In june 2006 the "Discovery Channel" aired a documentary about Jani and attracted international attention and interest in his case. Jani’s case was also made public through indian neurologist and jainism-follower Sudhir V. Shah of Ahmedabad who made two examinations of his abilities in 2003 and 2010. The results of these examinations were interpreted by Shah in favor of an own private hypothesis that the abilities of Jani were „scientifically not explainable“ and as an endorsement of his hypothesis about a possible autotrophic nutrition (photoautotrophism) in man, known only for plants and algae and not in men. Shah does not exclude the possibility of a cosmic energy feeding Prahlad Jani.

No scientific publication is known so far in scientific databases in relation to the experiment in 2003. And data for the experiment in 2010 are only preliminary. The only source of data are statements of the collaborating physicians in press conferences, divulgated in many newspaper articles and TV-broadcasts worldwide. Another source is the private homepage of neurologist Sudhir Shah.

The Indian Rationalist Association (IRA) described Jani as a "village fraud". This indian association was able to bust several similar "wonder" in relation to supposed inedia.

biographic data

There is not very much known about Jani/Mataji, and sources are limited to his own entourage. Jani/Mataji was born the day 13 of august 1929 in the indian village of Charada (or Charod) in Mehsana-district / Gujarat. According to a legend, he left his home when he was seven years old and wandered around. When he was eleven years old (or according to other sources at the age of eight years), he made some sort of „supernatural experience“ that changed his life completely. According to that legend he lost every desire for eating or drinking and had since then no defecation and eliminated no more urine. He was also never ill, but was recovered for unknown reason in 1942 in a Jaslok-Hospital (obviously without his consent) where he stayed 45 days. Always according to this legend, he stopped speaking and did not talk for 45 years (Maunbrat practice). Jani claims to experinece every day a „Samadhi-state" filling him with light. A Amrit-nectar fluid feeds him through a hole in his palate. Accordings to Hindu-texts, this liquid is considered as „drink of gods“ enabling the drinker to become inmortal. However, a MRT-picture made in 2003 shows no such hole in his palate. (see picture)

In statements found in the internet and newspaper articles, Jani seems to live in a cave. But if he lives in fact in a cave is not known for shure. In videos that can be seen on Youtube Jani is presented in a house environment, often sourrounded by followers (for instance ventilating him). Other videos show him in the „Sterling-hospital“ in Ahmedabad.

The Prahlad Jani examinations in 2003

The supposed extraordinary abilities and claims of this indian fakir, to live without any source of chemically bound energy and without water, were object of an examination in november 2003. Jani was examinated in the private "Sterling Hospital" in the west-indian town of Ahmedabad in Gujarat – state during a nine day period of supposed absence of food and drinking water. At the beginning, it was planned to check him over a seven day period in order to prolong the planned observation time without theratening his life, however. Sterling Hospital declined any responsability and refuted any payment in case of side effects. At the end, the state of Gujarat (the tax payers) guaranteed an insurance in case of side effects.

The examination started the day november 13 at 10 am and ended the day november 22 at 10 am (9 days) Jani was recovered in the intensive care department the first day. According to the panel of physicians performing the examination, his toilet was sealed for the next eight days and he stayed in a room with a glass door. He left that room twice per day for examinations (sonography of bladder, MRT..).

One of the participating physicians was the Ahmedabad neurologist Sudhir V. Shah, who examinated several similar cases in the past: Ellen Greve (Jasmuheen) and Colcata engineer Hira Ratan Manek. Nothing is known about the Shah’s examination in case of Greve/Jasmuheen. Ellen Greve claimed also „not to eat“, but she was seen several times eating and closed associates of her confim it. A test performed together with Australian TV failed after five days of starvation and had to be stopped by the physician present. Hira Ratan Manek also claims never to eat. He is travelling around the word and stays often for a longer period in Canda and USA where he sells DVS and offers speaches about his „inedia“. Manek seems to live from his earnings around his supposed inedia. However, like Jasmuheen, Manek has been seen several times eating and was successfully filmed when he visited an Indian restaurant in San Francisco, a behaviour clearly betraying his followers believing in his inedia. Neurologist Shah, who examinated Manek, declared that he checked Maneks abilities and found no explanation for his supposed inedia. There is no examination known of Sudhir Shah showing anything elese than a „success“ of inedia or „unexplainable facts“. Both, Hira Ratan Manek and Jani are followers of indian jainism. The indian jain monk Sri Sahaj Muni Maharaj claims also, that he did not eat over a period of one year (in 1995, according to other sources only 211 days). Fastings are an important issue in jainism.

According to the examinating group of physicians, Jani could not eat or drink during that period and he had no defecation and passed no urine. Some urine was sonografically found to be produced in his bladder (about 0,1 litres, but when Jani was informed abou that circumstance, the urine diappeared later). On a MRT-picture, some stool can be seen. Some of the results of the examination remain secret. So nothing was told to the public about his body weight. Also, at least one blood sugar measurement has been erased from a (private) webpage showing the blood values of Jani / Mataji.

According to private Webpages reporting about this 2003 examination, Prahlad Jani showed signs of a „healthy man“, with the exeption of a hearing loss. At an unknown date in proximity of the november 2003 examination, his heart rate was between 42-46 beats / minute, blood pressure was 114/80 mmHg (other source 110/60) and breathing frequency was 12-16 /min. Radiology showed stool gas in the gut. Some urine was also found in his bladder, that vanished later miraculously.

One of the main questions, the question of body weight and weight changings remain a sort of secret. We are told that the weight did not change, or only in the order of some grams. On the other side, the blood samples taken have also a weight of several grams. On a private Webpage telling data of that 2003 examination, the higth of Jani is given (1 m 50) and a precise value of his BMI (16,89). Calculating back we can therefore assume a body weight of 38,0 Kg. But it is not known at what precise day this value was measured. On the other hand, according neurologist Shah, Janis body weight changed between 38 and 42 Kg. But again, it is not known to what period of time this indication is related. A significant body weight drop during a controlled period of real starvation is not compatible with claims of an inedia. Such a body weight drop is known in other cases, for instance in the case of German anthroposoph Michael Werner leading to the conclusion that his inedia claims are a sort of dream and not a fact. Fasting Werner lost more than two Kg in a week. Other starving people lost for instance 6 Kg in 10 days. Hira Ratan Manek lost even 42 Kg.

Some (if not all ?) blood parameter of the Jani november 2003 are shown on the webpages of Sudhir Shah. The values presented show an increase in serum urea, and a again a drop three days after the examination. The same is true for serum sodium, serum chloride and serum potassium. The hematokrit is also increasing. This is a clear sign of dehydratation and hemokoncentration, compatible with a period of starvation and thirst. Blood sugar is decreasing, and serum acetone is increasing. This is also a sign of starvation. At rh beginning and three days after the test, values are normal.

But, instead discussing such a starvation period as a very plausible source for the blood values shown, these are explained to be amazing and to show a sort of medicine wonder. In fact they show a normal behaviour of a subject, compatible with actual knowledge in physiology. Examinator Shahs words sound different: "We have reached a hypothesis which confirms that Jani's body has certainly undergone a biological transformation due to yogic kriyas. And he can control his inner organs' functions, which itself is intriguing."

In april 2010 a second examination over an unknown period of time (perhaps 14 days) was performed, again at the Sterling-Hospital and again in collaboration with Sudhir Shah. Psiram will update this webpage later, if any data will be available.