A yoga guru has been accused of rape and sexual assault by 16 former students. The head of the Agama school in the island of Koh Phangan in Thailand, Swami Vivekananda Saraswati was operating a sex cult, according to the victims who spoke to the Guardian on condition of anonymity.

The 14 women and two men claim that for 15 years the retreat facilitated sexual assault, rape and misogynistic teachings, allegedly “brainwashing” hundreds of women into having sex with the Swami – whose real name is Narcis Tarcau – in the name of helping them achieve enlightenment.

After 31 women submitted testimonials alleging abuse to Agama, the school first tried to deal with it internally, but have now launched an independent inquiry.



Swami Vivekananda Saraswati

Most of the 14 women from the UK, Australia, Brazil, America and Canada who spoke to the Guardian did so on the condition of anonymity. Three of them claim they were raped by Tarcau under the guise of spiritual healing. The others allege he sexually assaulted them in private consultations held in his office.

The alleged assaults included Tarcau penetrating women with his fingers against their will, aggressively groping them, or performing sex acts on them without consent. When they said “no”, the women claim Tarcau would say “I know what’s best for you”, before forcing himself on them.

According to both male and female students, the culture of inappropriate sexual conduct was “endemic” at Agama. At least two senior male teachers have also been accused of either sexual assault or rape. Both left Koh Phangan after the allegations emerged in July and the school confirmed it has suspended all accused male teachers.

read more at theguardian.com