Nicolás Maduro, Venezuela’s ousted president, shared a little-known spiritual bond with India through Sathya Sai Baba. The connection came through his wife, Cilia Flores, who introduced him to the Indian guru before their marriage.
Raised Catholic, Maduro embraced Sai Baba’s teachings after meeting him with Flores. The couple visited Prasanthi Nilayam in Puttaparthi, Andhra Pradesh, in 2005. Photographs from the visit show them seated with the spiritual leader during a private meeting.
As Maduro rose in Venezuelan politics, Sai Baba’s influence remained visible. Reports said a portrait of the guru hung in Maduro’s private office alongside Simón Bolívar and Hugo Chávez. After Sai Baba’s death in 2011, Maduro, then foreign minister, led efforts for a national condolence resolution. Venezuela observed a day of mourning to honor the guru’s spiritual contribution.
Under Maduro’s rule, the Sathya Sai organization continued to operate in Venezuela. The country hosts one of Latin America’s largest Sai Baba devotee communities, active since 1974. In 2024, official National Day invitations featured the “Om” symbol.
Months before his capture in November 2025, Maduro publicly honored Sai Baba’s centenary. He described the guru as a “being of light” who continued to inspire him.
