How Sri Sathya Sai Baba Became A Spiritual Anchor For Maduro And Venezuela

Last Updated:January 07, 2026, 17:12 IST

Nicolas Maduro's private office at Miraflores Palace in Caracas once featured a large framed portrait of Sri Sathya Sai Baba.

Photographs from 2005 show Nicolas Maduro and Flores kneeling before the guru during a visit to his Prasanthi Nilayam ashram.

In his first appearance in a New York courtroom, ousted Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro reportedly declared, “In the name of God, you will see that I will be free," adding, “I am a man of God," as he pleaded not guilty to federal drug trafficking charges.

The statement renewed attention to an often-overlooked aspect of Nicolas Maduro’s personal life: his devotion to the late Indian spiritual leader Sri Sathya Sai Baba, a guru whose influence extends far beyond India and has found a particularly strong following in Venezuela.

Venezuela is a Catholic-majority country and Nicolas Maduro was born Catholic. Yet he, along with several senior figures in his political circle- including his wife, former National Assembly president Cilia Flores and Vice President Delcy Rodriguez- became devoted followers of Sri Sathya Sai Baba.

Nicolas Maduro’s private office at Miraflores Palace in Caracas once featured a large framed portrait of Sri Sathya Sai Baba displayed alongside images of independence hero Simon Bolivar and former president Hugo Chavez. Photographs from 2005 show Nicolas Maduro and Flores kneeling before the guru during a visit to his Prasanthi Nilayam ashram in the Andhra Pradesh.

When Sai Baba died in 2011 at the age of 84, the Venezuelan government issued an official condolence resolution and declared a national day of mourning- an unusual tribute for a foreign spiritual figure. As recently as November 2025, just weeks before the collapse of his government, Nicolas Maduro issued a public birthday message honoring Sri Sathya Sai Baba.

“I always remember him when we met," Nicolas Maduro said at the time.

“May the wisdom of this great teacher continue to enlighten us," describing Sai Baba as a “being of light."

Who Was Sri Sathya Sai Baba?

Born Sathyanarayana Raju in 1926, Sri Sathya Sai Baba claimed at the age of 14 to be the reincarnation of Shirdi Sai Baba, a revered 19th-century saint respected by both Hindus and Muslims. He preached messages such as “love all, serve all" and emphasized seva, or selfless service, as the foundation of spiritual life. The Sri Sathya Sai International Organization today operates in more than 120 countries, running free hospitals, schools, universities, water projects and disaster-relief initiatives. Nearly 2,000 Sai Centres operate worldwide.

Why Sai Baba Found Followers In Venezuela?

In Latin America, Sri Sathya Sai Baba’s movement has established an official presence in 22 countries but Venezuela is widely considered its most concentrated base. More than 30 centres and informal groups operate across the country, from the Andes to indigenous communities in the Amazon basin. Organisational meetings are conducted in Spanish and Venezuelan youth groups have produced original devotional music, including a song titled Mi Destino.

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