Born Madhu Patel in Kosindra, Gujarat, India on 10th Aug 1938, Jayaben was the youngest of three children, and the only daughter of Maganbhai and Sonaben Patel.

 She was treasured and spoilt like a princess by all at her maternal home, and she held fond memories of her childhood with her brothers, Shankarbhai and Jashbhai. Her fussy eating habits stem from her precious upbringing. Her father, whom she fondly called ‘Bapu’ had very carefully picked her future husband and rejected many proposals who didn’t fit the status of his daughter. She often said she always wanted to stay in India, but all her proposals came from abroad.

 She met Jayantibhai Patel from Piplav, and they got married in May 1957. Jayantibhai was studying for a degree in commerce at MS University in Baroda, whilst Jayaben became a housewife. Sadly, Jayaben’s mother, Sonaben Patel passed away soon after, and thereafter her father also passed away.

 On 16th Sep 1965, Jayantibhai arrived in the UK by himself to help settle the family in the UK. Jayaben arrived in 1967 and she worked in various jobs to support the family, including a plastic factory, the Hovis factory and a number of restaurant’s.

 Jayaben was blessed to have had darshan of Yogiji Maharaj at Durning Hall in Forest Gate, East London on the evening of Saturday 30th May 1970, and eventually started attending Satsang sabhas in Islington Mandir, and in 1977 Pramukh Swami Maharaj visited their home in Forest Gate.

 For many years, she did various sevas as part of the East London BAPS Satsang Mandal, as well as kitchen (cooking) seva in the old Neasden Mandir and the current shikhar-baddha mandir (Neasden Temple).