my parents- my first gurus

Lalitaben and her husband Vallabhdas, moved from Kenya to Sydney, Australia in 1993. Widowed at 59, Lalitaben spoke little English, lived by herself and was very independent. Back in the days when there were very few Vaishnavs in Sydney she started her day by wishing “Jai Shree Krishna” to trees around her place.

With the blessings of JJ Shree, Lalitaben has been a major contributor (accommodation, food, marketing, itinerary, protocol) in starting the Vaishnav Sangh in Australia. Today there are almost 1000 Vaishnavs at the major utsavs in all cities. Lalitaben is fondly remembered as “Ba” or “ Masi” to her Vaishnav Parivar, always the first to start the garbas at the monthly satsang. .

Long Bio

Lalitaben Vallabhdas Thakker

(25th January 1935 Drapha Gujarat to 27th April 2023 Sydney Australia)

Life Achievement

Almost single-handedly established Pushti Marg in Australia

Pustimarg Now in Australia

Well set with havelis in Sydney(under construction) , Melbourne( second one being constructed), Adelaide, Perth, Brisbane ( under consideration) and Newcastle. The Nand Mahotsav in Sydney attracts about 800 Vaishnavas.

How it started

 

Lalitaben was living in Kenya and migrated to Australia in 1993 with her husband. Sadly she lost him six months later. She was 59. There were no Vaishnavas and she knew few people. She continued with her path and seva as explained in the next section and would wish Jai Shree Krishna to all the trees near her. She never ate out and cooked her own food like before. She could not speak English.

In the late 90's the father of Shree Dwarkeshlalji Mahoday Kadi Ahmedabad approached Lalitaben to see if she could accommodate a visit. Lalitaben although living in rental accommodation readily agreed as she knew how hard arrangements were for the Vallabhkul family. A twenty-something Shree Dwarkeshlalji arrived accompanied by singer Krishnadas. She knew all the procedures needed and settled them down. Through her entrepreneurial spirit, she rang many to find folk who may be interested in coming to meet Shree Dwarkeshlalaji. In the meantime, she showed the visitors Sydney even though she spoke no English. This was done by train as no cars were available. She shopped by herself and cooked to their requirements. She even had the courage to discuss and make adjustments needed for Vallabhkul to be comfortable in a foreign country as this was the first time that Shree Dwarkeshlalji had left India. A few people were interested and whilst she was not educated managed to organise smooth Padhramni itineraries to conserve transport time for the dignitaries.

Slowly and steadily Lalitaben managed to find four families whose parents had practised Pushtimarg securing the first step for the future.

On the second visit the following year by Shree Dwarkeshlalji, plans were made to acquire a spot at the local Sanatan Hindu temple and have a statue of Shri Nathji installed. Funds were needed to do this. Lalitaben had been finding more and more children of Vaishnavas, and she persuaded donations by phone calls and personal visits often travelling by herself on trains.

In this way, Shree Dwarkeshlalaji stayed with Lalitaben twelve times and during this time the following achievements occurred

An idol of Shree Nathji was installed at Sri Mandir. The idol first arrived at Lalitaben's home. Here the first Vastra seva took place to the tune of Krishnadas singing. Appreciated by all the Australian neighbours.

Many children who were settled in Australia and came from Vaishnava families took Brahm Sambandh.

Shree Dwarkeshlalji's Vavji also visited several times, all staying at Lalitaben's home

The Vaishnav Sangh of Australia was born with a full committee.

A monthly Satsang and Utsav celebration in Sydney commenced.

Contacts were made in other cities of Australia by Lalitaben. Shree Dwarkeshlalaji visited these cities and over time Vashnav Sanghs started in each city culminating in Havelis in some of the cities

Annual Utsavs take place in every city and are attended by Shree Dwarkeshlalji.

Lalitaben never missed an Utsav and was always the first to begin the Garbas. She was also a Manorathi at every annual function with saving from her pension. She provided food for Shree Dwarkeshlalji for every annual function even when he was not staying with her.

At the 2022 Utsav when she was nearly 87 she prepared ladoos and bread to be delivered to the hosts of Shree Dwarkeshlalji. Even at this age, many vaishnavas visited her each week and like she had always done she prepared prasad/meals for them. 

She always made sure that she had Dakshina for the musicians and any attending assistants.

Promptness was a key tenet of hers and Vallabhkul Balkos adopted this.

She came to be known as "Lalita Masi".

Shree Dwarkeshlalji now travels all over the world but the first Kathas he recited were in Sydney while staying at Lalitabens home.

Lalitaben Early Pushtimarg and Personal Life

Lalitaben migrated from India to Kenya at the age of 5 with her mother to join her father Shree Muljibhai Jivandas Raja. At the age of six, she learned to make chapatis to help her mother who was sickly. She had six siblings. She lived in Kisumu, Kenya. School was abandoned early to care for the family.

Lalitaben was married at seventeen to Shree Vallabhdas Thakker, the eldest son of Shree Kalidas Hirji Thakker. Sadly her mother-in-law Kashiben passed away and Lalitaben took over the family duties for seven others which she enjoyed. Added pressure came from the failure of family businesses. Lalitaben managed the household with efficiency. Her motto was " Never try to save on Food".

Lalitaben's mother was introduced to Pushti Marg by a neighbour. This inspired Lalitaben. She went on Jatra to India several times always travelling by ship and in 3rd Class.

She had stopped eating food not prepared by Vaishnavas. Her daily routine consisted of reciting 108 Yamunastaks, reading Mahaprabhuji's writing and stories of 84 Vaishnavas as well as 252 Vaishnavas. In Kenya, she had a small Satsang at her house each morning and a large Satsang every Tuesday with about 100 Vaishnavas attending. She was well supported by her husband in this.

She left Kenya in the early nineties but never stopped her daily routines. In her early days in Australia the trees were the only Vaishnavas near her.

Lalitaben was a woman of action and spoke only when necessary. Her actions inspired this poem written by her son

HEAVEN ( Jaise Swarg) 

My mother touches dance anklets decorated with red beads as soon as she rises in the morning Is heaven red? Then orange flowers …Is heaven orange? She may then tap a yellow silk fabric. Green leaves await her next Is heaven yellow-green?

At this time light blue naturally awakes in her throat. 

If it is the season she will whisper affirmations of red stillness, orange touch,

yellow stillness,

green love

light blue words,

indigo blue sound, 

navy blue pink gold clarity

purple good thoughts,

gold reach,

white reach,

and

all-encompassing black

Heaven could be light blue

The flute music comes on each day 

so her indigo-blue hearing is in rapture

as she softly weaves  

flowers in a navy blue thread.

There could be a pink ribbon or gold stars.

silence is maintained at this time ...

could this be purple?

A golden plate and serving vessels are also washed during 

the silence

Food which may be white is gently placed on these

-she will see black when she shuts her eyes to do this

is heaven indigo blue navy blue pink gold purple gold white black?

Is peace in the seva of Shree Nathji?