SRI NABADWIP DHAM MAHATMYA-MUKTA-MALA

Simantadwip (Sravanam: listening)

Rescuing Chad Kazi

As we continue our Sri Nabadwip Dham parikrama, by the mercy of Sri Gurupadpadma, we have now come to the samadhi-mandir of Chad Kazi. The town Kazinagar where this samadhi-mandir is situated is non-different from Mathura. He who was famous as Kamsa in Krishna's pastimes in Vraja became Chad Kazi in the pastimes of Gaura.

One day, when Kazi was passing the house of Srivas Pandit, he heard devotees chanting kirtan. Annoyed, he entered the house and broke a mridanga, threatening everyone, ‘Stop all this kirtan! If you do not do it, I will punish you even more!’ Everyone became afraid and soon told Nimai about their plight. When Mahaprabhu heard about Kazi’s atrocious behaviour, He became very angry and immediately ordered devotees, ‘Tell everyone that they must come out tonight with oil lamps. We shall go to town with sankirtan!’ The order was announced everywhere, and in the evening, thousands and thousands of people came out onto the street, each carrying a burning lamp in their hand. Then, together with the devotees, with the drums and karatals, Mahaprabhu started a great maha-nagar-sankirtan. Whichever village Mahaprabhu entered with His party, all women and old and young men would all come out on the street, offering their obeisances at Mahaprabhu’s lotus feet. This sight made the hearts of atheists burn in anguish.

Proceeding down the streets with kirtan, everyone finally came to Chad Kazi’s house. When Chad Kazi peeked through the window of his room and saw the crowd, he got scared: he rushed inside the house and quickly bolted the door. Mahaprabhu ordered to break the door.

Then, entering Kazi’s room, Mahaprabhu said, ‘What is going on? We come as guests to your house, but seeing us you hide in your room! Is it part of your religion to hide when guests come to your house?’

‘No, no! I was thinking that you all have come in anger, that is why I got a little scared.’

‘What is there to be scared of? We have come to talk.’

‘So I see… Prabhu, can I say something to You?’

‘Yes, what is it?’ Mahaprabhu asked.

Looking around and seeing the great crowd, Kazi said softly, ‘I mean, can I say something to You privately?’

Mahaprabhu replied, ‘Everyone here is My own men, you can say it in front of them.’

‘All right… That day when I broke the mridanga… When I went to sleep, a lion came to me in a dream and pounced on my chest. That Narasimha pressed His claw against my chest and said, “Because you have broken a mridanga, I will tear your chest apart!” Seeing His enormous claw, I was terrified and closed my eyes. Then He said, “What? Are you scared? I will let you go this time, but if you ever again do anything against My devotees, I will not tolerate it – I will destroy you and your entire family!” Saying this, Narasimha went away, but just look – there is still a claw mark on my chest!’ Then, Chad Kazi unbuttoned his shirt and showed his chest to everyone. When everyone saw the claw mark, they believed him.

Kazi continued, ‘I have not told anyone about it, but the next day, a servant came to me and said that he was going to stop kirtan somewhere when suddenly his face caught fire! His whole beard got burnt, and he has blisters on his neck. After that, another servant came to me and told the same thing had happened to him, too. Then, another one. I told them that they did not have to stop kirtans anymore and sent them to stay a few days at home. Then, after a few days, some Muslim commoners came to me and complained that Hinduism was growing and only “Hari Hari” was heard everywhere! The Hindus also came to me complaining, “Because of Nimai Pandit’s influence all the low-caste people are now chanting the Name of the Lord – they constantly say, “Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna”! As the result of their sins, the Name of the Lord will become contaminated and the power of the Name will diminish! We will run away from this Nabadwip!” Everyone is coming and asking me, “You are the head of the village – kick Nimai out of here!” I sent everybody home promising to take care of it, but now I am thinking that You are really the Lord Himself.’

Hearing all this, Mahaprabhu was very pleased – placing His hand on Kazi’s body, He said with a smile, ‘To hear the Name of Krishna come from your mouth is a great wonder. Because you have taken the Name of Krishna, you have become supremely pure – all your sins have been removed now.’ When Mahaprabhu said this, Chad Kazi began to cry and fell down at Mahaprabhu’s holy lotus feet. This is how he was rescued and became a devotee.

We can see even today that, by the influence of the Holy Name of Krishna, people all over the world become devotees and chant the Holy Name.

Mahaprabhu once asked Haridas Thakur, ‘How can yavanas get liberated in this Kali-yuga?’ Haridas Thakur replied, ‘Namabhase mukti paibe. They will be liberated through the shadow chanting of the Holy Name.’

If you say, ‘Hare Krishna’, Krishna Himself will protect you: you will not have to be again born in a dog’s or cat’s body – you will be rescued from this material world. This is the result of chanting the Holy Name, but when you chant the Holy Name of Krishna, there can be offence in your chanting. What is the solution then? If you chant the Names of Nitai and Gaura, there is no consideration of offences. Nityananda Prabhu does not judge whether there is any offence or not – if you sincerely, without any duplicity, call out to His Holy Name, you will get every possible result of chanting the Holy Name.

This is how Mahaprabhu bestowed the treasure of divine love upon Chad Kazi, making him a Vaishnav. Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur said, ‘This is the difference between Vraja and Nabadwip: those who make offences in Krishna-lila receive nirvana (impersonal liberation), but those who commit offences in Gaura-lila are presented with the jewel of divine love. That is why Gaura-lila is the highest. If there is any offence in a conditioned soul, Krishna’s Name, Krishna’s abode, etc. rescue this soul after a very long time, but Gaura’s abode, Gaura’s Name, Gaura’s beautiful form, qualities, associates and paraphernalia overlook offences – they rescue everyone easily, and no offence can check this. If you receive the darshan of Chad Kazi’s samadhi, all your pain and misery will go far away.’

Therefore, coming to the samadhi of Chad Kazi, we offer our obeisance at his feet, remembering Mahaprabhu’s pastimes and praying to attain the Lord’s mercy and service.

Jay Sri Chad Kazi ki jay.
Sri Nimai Pandit ki jay
Harinam-sankirtan ki jay.
Sri Nabadwip Dham parikrama ki jay.

The great tree beneath which Chad Kazi's samadhi-mandir is situated.

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