India
The Isha Foundation has responded to the allegations levelled against its founder Jaggi Vasudev by parents of two women.
Updated : Aug 03, 2016, 08:59 PM IST
Coimbatore-based Isha Foundation has refuted allegations made by a retired professor of his daughters being held captive at the yoga centre.
In a petition to the District Collector, retired professor Kamaraj had alleged that his two daughters, aged 33 and 31, who had gone to the centre to learn yoga some time ago, were "brain washed" and forced to stay there, tonsure their heads and wear saffron clothes. He had alleged that he was not allowed to meet his daughters and had expressed apprehensions about their safety.
However, in a statement, a spokesperson of the Foundation said,
We recently learnt that the parents of our full-time volunteers Maa Mathi and Maa Maayu (pre monastic names – Geetha and Latha) have lodged a complaint against them staying at Isha Yoga Centre in Coimbatore.
We would like to clarify that the duo, like other full-time volunteers, have been staying here on their own will and living happily without anybody forcing them. We understand that their decision may have caused pain to their parents, which is not our intention at all.
We have respectfully requested the parents to reconcile with the decisions they have made as well-educated adults and refrain from making baseless allegations against the Foundation and its founder. Isha Foundation has been working tirelessly towards physical, mental and spiritual well-being of all through the inner science of Yoga. The parents and family members are very much welcome to continue visiting us."
The yoga centre claimed that the women were staying there out of their own will and also released a letter signed by the duo to this effect.