Venezuela's new interim president, Delcy Eloina Rodriguez, shares a profound spiritual connection with India, having made multiple visits to the ashram of the late spiritual leader Sathya Sai Baba in Puttaparthi. This revelation comes at a time of significant political transition in the South American nation.
A Pattern of Devotion Among Venezuelan Leadership
The spiritual inclination of Venezuela's top leadership is not new. Rodriguez's predecessor, Nicolas Maduro, along with his wife Cilia Flores, were also known followers of Sathya Sai Baba. A trustee of the Sathya Sai Central Trust (SSCT) confirmed this longstanding connection, noting it dates back to the mid-2000s. However, the trustee added a note of caution, stating, "I know Maduro and his wife were Baba’s devotees. But that said, not everybody who believes in Baba follows everything he has taught us."
The SSCT, which manages all affairs of the ashram, maintains a position of discretion regarding individual devotees. RJ Ratnakar, the managing trustee, told TOI, "We have nothing much to say on this. As you can understand, many come to Baba out of faith. We would not know all of them personally." This is due to the vast global following of the spiritual leader.
Confirmed Visits to Prashanthi Nilayam
Multiple photographs that surfaced confirm Rodriguez's presence at Prashanthi Nilayam, the main ashram in Puttaparthi. Her most documented visit occurred on August 5, 2023. An official video from the Sri Sathya Sai Media Centre shows her offering respects at the ashram, accompanied by Capaya Rodriguez, the Venezuelan Ambassador to India.
The video description contextualised the visit, stating, "...The ministers who are in India currently participating in G20 Summit to strengthen the cordial relations between India and Venezuela and to improve the trade and economy between the two nations, have come to Puttaparthi on a personal visit..." It also noted a previous ministerial visit on October 29, 2019.
Reports suggest Rodriguez may have first visited Puttaparthi in August 2023, though her travels to India could have started earlier. She is also said to have visited again in October 2024. There is no confirmation of any visit in 2025.
Spiritual Link Amid Political Turbulence
Rodriguez's spiritual pursuits have drawn public attention following her recent political ascent. She was appointed Vice President by Maduro in 2018 and assumed the role of interim president after the country's Supreme Court ruled that Maduro was temporarily unable to fulfil his duties.
This spiritual thread connecting consecutive Venezuelan leaders to an Indian guru presents a unique facet of international diplomacy and personal faith. It underscores how global figures often seek solace and guidance in spiritual centres far from their own political arenas. The visits, while personal, occur against the backdrop of ongoing efforts to strengthen bilateral trade and economic relations between India and Venezuela, as seen during the G20 summit engagements.
The enduring appeal of Sathya Sai Baba's teachings for Venezuela's political elite highlights the universal and cross-cultural reach of his message, even as the SSCT chooses to focus on the teachings rather than the identities of the devotees they attract from around the world.
