A NSW ashram until this year never apologised for the sexual exploitation of girls by its leader.

A NSW ashram blocked abuse victims from its Facebook page, threatened them with defamation action and until this year never apologised for the sexual exploitation of girls by its founding spiritual leader.

A royal commission is examining how a retreat, now known as the Mangrove Yoga Ashram, handled sex abuse complaints against Swami Akhandananda Saraswati who ran the NSW Central Coast compound from 1974 to 1986.

Children were physically and sexually abused at the ashram where some parents handed guardianship of their children as well as property and income over to Akhandananda and his partner Shishy.

The ashram, nestled in the foothills of Mangrove mountain, is the largest in Australia and a registered charity. About 200 people lived there at its peak.

In the 1970s and `80s people flocked to it, taking up residence under the spiritual guidance of Akhandananda, who at 22 had been sent to Australia from India to lead the centre.

On Tuesday two women told how they were groomed and sexually abused at the ashram where Akhandananda would tell them "engaging in sexual activity with him was for their own spiritual growth".

The swami was charged, convicted and jailed in 1989 for molesting four girls and spent 14 months in jail until his conviction was overturned.

His partner Shishy fled the ashram in 1985 and gave evidence at his trial.

Shishy, who became involved with Akhandananda when she was 16, will give evidence at the commission hearing.

Read the original:
Swami used Ashram girl to procure others