Rensselaer Republican, Volume 14, Number 14, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 December 1881 — Fasting for Ninety-One Days. [ARTICLE]

Fasting for Ninety-One Days.

Bombay Gazette. A religious mendicant of the Jain caste has just completed a ninety-one day’adbxt at Pahlanpur. A eye-wit-ness describes in a Suart paper the appearance of the man on the last day of the pqnance. Toe “saint,” it is said, underwent a fast of eighty-six days last ye ary and has been more or less accustothejl to this form of infliction. When seen on the ninety-first day of the recent fast his veins were much swollen, and he seemed to speak only With great effort. He was seated onja blanket in a corner, and bad near him the sour water of curdled milk, which he sometimes drank. He seemed, however, to be capable physical exertion, and up to the last day procured the curdjed-milk water for himself. He was all along engrossed In prayer, and held no communication with other men, except on religious topics. The man has spent his life in s'rict asceticism, and has denit d himself all food and luxury save wbac tnav be got from the milk water, bread and yellow rice. His bedding con’-ists of an ordinary blanket and nothing more. Many *Jains undergo penances in the shape of lasts and otn-. er s.li-inflictiohs, but it is said that this man’s efforts in this direction are unap|roa<h d by even the mefl" dev.t-d co-religionists, and be has drawn to bim-elf a large following of Shrawaks He accepts, however, no presents and no fees.