Psychologist Nigel Denning. Photo: Josh Robenstone

Many women at a Melbourne ashram at the centre of a sex scandal joined the group seeking healing after surviving rape and sexual assaults elsewhere, advocates say.

Fairfax Mediareported on Monday that Mornington Peninsula's sexual offences and child abuse investigation team were investigating the Shiva School of Meditation and Yoga at Mount Eliza after a number of victims reported alleged abuse there.

It can be revealed that many of the alleged victims were particularly vulnerable, having turned to the ashram and its spiritual teachings to help them with their own personal problems.

Swami Shankarananda, American-born Russell Michael Kruckman, had 'secret sexual relations' with residents of the school.

The school's former treasurer, Dan Conquest, had lived at the ashram for about 11 years when he left last year, days after hearing about Swami Shankarananda's "tantric practices" with members through a friend.

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He was shocked because he believed the Swami was celibate and eventually left because he did not want to "passively condone" what he believed to be sexual abuse at the ashram.

He said that the Shiva School has threatened to sue at least one whistleblower for defamation if they continued to discuss sex abuse allegations, and a number of people have left the Shiva School since it was revealed the centre's former director, Swami Shankarananda, American-born Russell Michael Kruckman, had had "secret sexual relations" with residents last year.

Nigel Denning, a counselling psychologist and owner of an East Melbourne private psychology practice, started going to the Mt Eliza ashram about a decade ago and regularly attended its meditation classes.

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Alleged victims of Shiva School of Meditation and Yoga were previously sexually assaulted

Swami Shankarananda. Photo: Gary Sissons/Mornington Peninsula News Group

An ashram that teaches meditation and yoga is being investigated over allegations of sexual abuse.

Police confirmed they are investigating the Shiva School of Meditation and Yoga at Mount Eliza, with a number of victims alleging in recent days that they had been sexually abused.

Detectives from the Mornington Peninsula's sexual offences and child abuse investigation team have interviewed several people about their experiences at the ashram.

One of the women, who preferred not to be named, told Fairfax Media thatshe had been pressured into a sexual relationship after being promised her healing and enlightenment in return:"I think it was definitely a complete abuse of power," she said.

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While she allowed the man to grope and kiss her, she said it was not consensual, because followers believed that "the highest value ... is to surrender to the guru because that's the path to god".

A sign at the ashram read: "Surrender is doing it when you don't want to," she said.

"I had this idea he had divine love for me but now I'm struggling to realise that it was an illusion, that he didn't have my best interests at heart. It was what he wanted to get from me."

Another former member said: "It's a huge betrayal of trust. You go there to learn to meditate but it seems there is another personal program [there] to groom women for sex."

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Police investigate sex abuse claims at Shiva School of Meditation and Yoga

: The Pulipparamala hillock at Omalloor here witnessed a unique ceremony on Monday when a group of Russian sanyasins dedicated a museum in memory of Indian saint Siva Prabhakara Sidha Yogi.

The Russian sanyasins, led by the abott of the Divya Loka Ashram in the riverside region of Nizhny Novgorod, near Moscow, set up the museum in memory of the Indian Yogi to commemorate his 30th death anniversary.

Siva Prabhakara Sidha Yogi, who died at Pulipparamala, near Omaloor in 1986, had disciples across the world. He was entombed in the courtyard of his disciple, Nadakkuzhiyil Janardhanan Nair, atop the Pulipparamala hill. Pulipparamala is now a pilgrimage centre. His disciples undertake an annual pilgrimage to his Samadhi (tomb).

Talking to The Hindu , Swami Vishnudevananda Giri, abbot of Divya Loka Ashram, said he had met the Indian Yogi in Bulgaria. He became his disciple and set up the Divya Loka Ashram on 100 acres of land in Moscow a decade ago.

The Ashram has been teaching Indian spirituality, Yoga and meditation since the past one decade, he said.

The museum houses the wooden coat, chair, saalagramoms, sree-chakra,and various other articles that belonged to the Yogi. The Rs. 25-lakh museum has been set up in the house where the Yogi spent his last days.

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Russians set up museum in memory of Yogi