The Sai Baba Connection: Why Venezuela's Delcy Rodriguez May Go To Puttaparthi During India Visit
The Sai Baba Connection: Why Venezuela's Delcy Rodriguez May Go To Puttaparthi During India Visit Published By, Last Updated: June 03, 2026, 09:38 IST During
The Sai Baba Connection: Why Venezuela's Delcy Rodriguez May Go To Puttaparthi During India Visit Published By, Last Updated: June 03, 2026, 09:38 IST During one of her earlier Puttaparthi visits, Rodriguez reportedly spoke about experiencing peace and spiritual calm at the ashram. Rapid Read Delcy Rodriguez is a devoted follower of Indian spiritual guru, Sathya Sai Baba. (Image: SSSCT) As Venezuela’s interim President Delcy Rodriguez arrives in India on Wednesday for talks on energy, trade and investment, attention is focused on crude oil, diplomacy and the growing strategic partnership between New Delhi and Caracas. But there is another, lesser-known dimension to Rodriguez’s India connection – one that begins not in the corridors of power in New Delhi but in the spiritual town of Puttaparthi in Andhra Pradesh. Read More: Venezuelan Acting President To Visit India From June 3-7, Bilateral Talks With PM Modi On Cards For years, Rodriguez has maintained a personal association with the legacy of Sathya Sai Baba, one of India’s most influential spiritual figures with followers across the world.
Her visits to Sai Baba’s ashram, Prasanthi Nilayam, have made her one of the highest-profile international political leaders publicly linked to the movement. Multiple Visits To Puttaparthi Rodriguez’s connection is not a one-off diplomatic stopover. Records and reports from the Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust show that she visited Prasanthi Nilayam in August 2023 during a trip to India. She returned in October 2024 while serving as Venezuela’s Executive Vice President. During that visit, she offered prayers at Sai Baba’s Mahasamadhi and spent time at the ashram. According to trust officials, the visits were personal and spiritual rather than political. During one of her visits, Rodriguez reportedly spoke about experiencing peace and spiritual calm at the ashram. Reports from Andhra Pradesh suggest she could again visit Puttaparthi during her current India trip, though there has been no official confirmation. Not Just Rodriguez: A Wider Venezuelan Connection What makes the story even more intriguing is that Rodriguez is not the only senior Venezuelan leader associated with Sathya Sai Baba’s teachings.
Reports have noted that former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro also expressed admiration for Sai Baba and publicly acknowledged his influence. The Sai movement has had a presence in Venezuela since the 1970s and developed a network of followers over decades. This unusual spiritual bridge between Venezuela and India has often attracted attention because it links one of Latin America’s most prominent political establishments with a spiritual movement headquartered in rural Andhra Pradesh. Why Sai Baba’s Message Resonates Globally Sathya Sai Baba, who passed away in 2011, built a worldwide following through his emphasis on service, interfaith harmony and universal human values. His educational institutions, hospitals and drinking-water projects helped transform Puttaparthi into an international pilgrimage destination. The movement attracted devotees from more than 100 countries, including politicians, business leaders and public figures. For many followers outside India, Sai Baba’s appeal lay in his message that spirituality transcends religious and national boundaries. Rodriguez’s current visit is expected to be dominated by discussions on energy cooperation, especially as India has sharply increased imports of Venezuelan crude in recent months.
She is also scheduled to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other senior leaders. Yet her repeated journeys to Puttaparthi highlight a softer, more personal connection between the two countries. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit About the Author Pragati Ratti Pragati is a News Editor at news18.com. Having headed the Business and Viral sections, Pragati now ideates, writes and edits long-form features and articles on national and global affairs. She ensures... Read More First Published: June 03, 2026, 09:38 IST News explainers The Sai Baba Connection: Why Venezuela's Delcy Rodriguez May Go To Puttaparthi During India Visit Disclaimer: Comments reflect users’ views, not News18’s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments...
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