Delcy Rodriguez stepped into global focus after being sworn in as Venezuela’s interim President, days after United States forces ‘arrested’ the president, Nicolás Maduro, who is now facing trial in New York along with his wife. While international attention remains fixed on Venezuela’s political transition, a quieter and unexpected aspect of Rodriguez’s personal life has drawn interest, and that is her not-so-well-known connection with India.
Soon after her swearing-in ceremony, photographs of Rodriguez began circulating on social media, with claims that she shares a spiritual bond with Indian spiritual leader Sathya Sai Baba, similar to Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.
Is Delcy Rodriguez a Devotee of Sathya Sai Baba?
According to reports and official statements, Delcy Rodriguez has visited Prasanthi Nilayam, the spiritual headquarters of Sathya Sai Baba in Puttaparthi, Andhra Pradesh, on two occasions in recent years. These visits were not part of any official religious diplomacy but were described as personal visits.
Executive Vice President of Venezuela H.E. Ms. Delcy Rodriguez visits #PrasanthiNilayam and offers her respects to #Bhagawan #SriSathyaSaiBaba along with H.E. Ms. Capaya, #Ambassador of Venezuela to India | Aug 5, 2023@DRodriguez_en@IndiaVenezuela pic.twitter.com/BEPYPOKIpv
— Sri Sathya Sai Baba – Official (@TheSathyaSai) August 5, 2023
Her first visit took place on August 5, 2023, when she was in India as part of a Venezuelan delegation attending the G20 Summit. While the delegation’s purpose was to “strengthen diplomatic and economic ties between India and Venezuela,” her visit to the ashram was described as “personal in nature” and undertaken to pay respects to Sathya Sai Baba.
Delcy Rodriguez’s Prasanthi Nilayam Visit During G20 Summit
Prasanthi Nilayam is the main ashram and spiritual centre of Sathya Sai Baba. Located in Puttaparthi, it houses the Samadhi Mandir and serves as a global hub for prayer, service, and spiritual gatherings. Rodriguez’s visit during the G20 Summit highlighted how spiritual pursuits can coexist alongside high-level diplomacy.
🇻🇪Venezuela Interim President worshiping Sri Sathya Sai Baba at Prasanthi Nilayam Ashram of Puttaparthi, Andhra Pradesh during her earlier trip to India.
She’s follower of Sri Sathya Sai Baba. https://t.co/XuhuRtH47a pic.twitter.com/cCVebtL0UY
— Bhakt Prahlad🚩 (@RakeshKishore_l) January 6, 2026
Nearly a year later, on October 26, 2024, Rodriguez returned to Prasanthi Nilayam while serving as Venezuela’s Executive Vice President. This time, she was accompanied by Capaya Rodriguez Gonzalez, Venezuela’s Ambassador to India.
What Happened During Her Second Visit to the Ashram
During her 2024 visit, Rodriguez was received by R.J. Rathnakar, Managing Trustee of the Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust. He guided her through important spiritual sites, including the Sanctum Sanctorum and Shanthi Bhavan.
According to a press release issued by the Trust, Rodriguez expressed deep happiness at revisiting the ashram and said that being in the divine presence of Sathya Sai Baba gave her a sense of calm and tranquillity. She spent time in prayer at both locations and spoke of the peace she experienced there.
India–Venezuela Spiritual Ties Go Beyond Politics
India’s Ministry of External Affairs has previously noted that several spiritual and cultural centres in Venezuela have been established by Indian organisations and gurus. These include followers of Sathya Sai Baba, Brahma Kumaris, and Radha Swami, reflecting long-standing spiritual ties between the two countries.
Rodriguez’s personal visits underline how these connections extend beyond formal diplomacy and into shared spiritual values.
