Sri Caitanya's Response to Muslim Tyranny

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Simantadvipa

"After initially trying to impede the Lord's sankirtana movement, he

(Chand Kazi)was converted and vowed that neither he nor his

descendants would obstruct the chanting of Hare Krishna again."

 

Simantadvipa is the second island of Sri Navadwipa Dham. It embodies

the devotional mellow of sravanam, hearing about the pastimes of the

Lord. Before and during the appearance of Lord Caitanya this area

was called Simulia. This is where Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu delivered

Chand Kazi, the Muslim magistrate.

 

This area contains Vishnunagar, Rajapur, Sen Danga, some portions of

Vamanpukur, Kasthasali and some other places.

Story of Simantadvipa

 

One time in Satya yuga, Lord Siva was madly dancing and chanting the

names of Gauranga. Parvati asked him, "Who was Gauranga? By seeing

you dancing and hearing the names of Gauranga my heart is melting."

Siva then told her that Krishna will descend during Kali yuga in

Mayapur, in the womb of Saci Devi. Lord Gauranga will distribute the

jewel of love of Godhead to everyone without discrimination. I will

live on the bank of the Ganges in a hut and worship Gauranga.

 

Parvati then went to Simantadvipa and meditated on Gauranga and

chanted his name. After some time Lord Caitanya appeared with his

associates to give His mercy to Parvati. He asked Parvati why she

had come there. She told him that He had appointed her to bind all

the living entities in the material world who were averse to Him.

She told Him, "people say that where ever Krishna appears there will

be no maya. I am therefore forced to remain outside of Your

spiritual domain." She asked to be able to see His pastimes.

 

Parvati then put the dust from Lord Caitanya's feet on her simanta

(the part in the hair). This is how this place got the name

Simantadvipa.

 

Chand Kazi's Samadhi (Tomb)

Chand Kazi was the chief magistrate of Navadvipa during the time of

Caitanya Mahaprabhu. The city magistrate was called the Kazi. The

Zamindars or landholders levied taxes on the land, but keeping law

and order and punishing criminals was the duty entrusted to the

Kazi. It is said that Chand Kazi was the spiritual master of Nawab

Hussain Shah. According to one opinion his name was Maulana

Sirajuddina, and according to another his name was Habibara

Rahamana. Descendants of Chand Kazi are still living in the vicinity

of Mayapur.

 

After initially trying to impede the Lord's sankirtana movement, he

was converted and vowed that neither he nor his descendants would

obstruct the chanting of Hare Krishna again. A champaka tree has

sprung up from his tomb which is said to be over 500 years old. It

grows along with a neem tree. In Sri Navadvipa Dhama Mahatmya it

says that by seeing this samadhi one's old age and disease are

vanquished.

 

The village of Chand Kazi is considered non-different than Mathura.

King Kamsa in Krishna-lila became Chand Kazi in Gaura-lila.

 

Nilambara Cakravarti, the father of Sacimata, lived near this place.

 

How To Get There This place is located about two kilometres past

Lord Caitanya's birthplace on the left side of the road, in the

middle of a small village. It is located on the border of Sri

Antardvipa.

 

Delivering Chand Kazi

Under the order of Hussain Shah, the king of Bengal, who was

Jarasandha in Krishna-lila, Chand Kazi stopped the performance of

kirtana. The Lord appeared to the Kazi as Narasimhadeva in a dream

and put fear in the heart of the Kazi. Later, Lord Caitanya made him

into a great devotee.

 

One day Chand Kazi went to the house of Srivasa Acarya and forcibly

stopped the kirtana that was going on there. In the process one of

the mridangas was broken. The Chand Kazi told the devotees: "No one

should perform sankirtana on the streets of the city. The next time

I see someone performing such sankirtana, certainly I shall chastise

him by not only confiscating all his property, but also converting

him into a Muslim."

When Lord Caitanya heard about the harassment of the Kazi He became

very angry and organized a mass Sankirtana party. That night the

devotees formed many groups and went through the streets of

Navadvipa eventually ending at the Kazi's house. Lord Caitanya then

had a discussion with the Kazi in which he proved on the strength of

the scriptures that the highest form of worship was love of Radha

and Krishna. Chand Kazi then told Lord Caitanya that he had just had

a dream that Narasimhadeva came and started to rip his chest. After

making a few scratches he stopped and told the Kazi. "Today you did

not cause so much trouble, so I will allow you to live, but if you

again try to interfere with the Sankirtana movement I will kill you

and your entire family." The Chand Kazi said, "After saying this,

the lion left, but I was very much afraid of Him. Just see the marks

of His nails on my heart." The Kazi then showed his chest. Chand

Kazi then told Lord Caitanya that he would never bother the

Sankirtana movement again and neither would his descendants.

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