AHMEDABAD: Prahlad Jani alias Chunriwala Mataji, a breatharian Yogi who claimed to have survived without food or water for over 70 years, died on Tuesday morning in Gujarat's Gandhinagar district at the age of 90.

He had massive followers in Gujarat and breathed his last at his native village Charada. His body was taken to his ashram-cum-cave situated near Ambaji temple in Banaskantha district. He will be given 'Samadhi' tomorrow.

"Mataji was shifted to Charada a few days back after he expressed his will to spend some time at his native place. He breathed his last early today morning. His body will be kept at his Ashram for two days to enable his devotees to pay homage. He will be given ''Samadhi'' at his ashram on Thursday," said the statement issued by his disciples.

Being a devout believer of goddess Amba, he used to wear a red saari (chunri) all the time and dress like a woman, because of which, he was known as Chunriwala Mataji. He had made a small cave located near Ambaji temple his home at a young age and subsequently gained popularity as a Yogi who survived only on air.

Jani claimed to have spent 76 years of his life without consuming food or water. Jani had left his parent's house at a very young age in pursuit of ''spiritual experience''. His disciples say he left eating and drinking at the age of 14.

In 2010, scientists and doctors associated with the Defence Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences (DIPAS) under the Defence Research and Development Organisation had conducted a 15-day observational study on Mr Jani to find out how he was living without food or water. The DIPAS later stated that Mr Jani had "some extreme form of adaptation to starvation and water restrictions", a news agency reported.

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