Champa Tree

Opening Time
Daytime (A small shrine has been constructed at the site, with no Deities installed)

Information – The tomb on the burial ground of the famous Chand Kazi who was chastised and favoured by Mahaprabhu. A magnificent Champa tree over 4 centuries old still stands on the cemetry and this tree is perhaps the oldest of its kind ever seen.
(THE HARMONIST AS IT IS VOL.2 (VOL. XXVI, June 1928 – May 1929), Page 188)

Nityananda Prabhu took Jiva and quickly entered the Chand Kazi’s village, where He said, “O Jiva, hear My words. The Chand Kazi’s village is none other than Mathura. After performing kirtana, Gauranga gave love of God to the Kazi and liberated him. Mathura’s King Kamsa of Krsna-lila became Chand Kazi in Gaura‑lila. For that reason Gauranga addressed the Kazi as His maternal uncle, and out of fear the Kazi took shelter of Gauranga’s lotus feet.
Under orders from Hussain Shah, who was the king of the Bengal empire and Jarasandha in krsna‑lila, the Kazi caused disturbance during kirtana performance by breaking the mrdangas. The Lord, appearing in the form of Nrsimha, put fear in the Kazi’s heart. Like Kamsa, the Kazi covered in fear. Sri Caitanya, however, gave him prema and thus made the Kazi a great devotee. The very fortunate hear this story of the Kazi’s liberation. “Just see the difference between Vraja‑tattva and Navadvipa‑tattva. Those who offend Krsna are liberated by merging into the Lord’s effulgence, whereas in Navadvipa the offenders receive the treasure of love of God. Therefore, Lord Gauranga’s pastimes are considered the highest. Gauranga’s abode, name, form, and qualities do not consider offense; rather, they expertly deliver one from any offense. If the devotee has some offense in his heart, then Krsna’s name and abode will deliver him only after a long time. But Gauranga’s name and abode immediately bestow prema on the devotee, for offenses create no obstacle and are easily overcome. O Jiva, see the Kazi’s samadhi. By seeing this samadhi the living entities’ old age and disease are vanquished.”
(Sri Navadvipa-Dhama-Mahatmya, Chapter 6)

Hearing the resounding vibration of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra, the local Muslims, greatly angry, submitted a complaint to the Kazi.
PURPORT
The phaujadarā, or city magistrate, was called the kājī (Kazi). The jamidāras (Zamindars), or landholders (maṇḍalerās), levied taxes on the land, but keeping law and order and punishing criminals was the duty entrusted to the Kazi. Both the Kazi and the landholders were under the control of the governor of Bengal, which at that time was known as Subā-bāṅgālā. The districts of Nadia, Islāmpura and Bāgoyāna were all under the Zamindar named Hari Hoḍa or his descendant known as Kṛṣṇadāsa Hoḍa. It is said that Chand Kazi was the spiritual master of Nawab Hussain Shah. According to one opinion his name was Maulānā Sirājuddina, and according to another his name was Habibara Rahamāna. Descendants of Chand Kazi are still living in the vicinity of Māyāpur. People still go see the tomb of Chand Kazi, which is underneath a campaka tree and is known as Chand Kazi’s samādhi.
(CC Adi 17.124)

Śrī Gadādhara dāsa, the twenty-third branch, was understood to be the topmost, for he induced all the Muslim Kazis to chant the holy name of Lord Hari.
PURPORT
…When Śrīla Gadādhara dāsa Prabhu was preaching the cult of hari-kīrtana, there was a magistrate who was very much against his saṅkīrtana movement. Following in the footsteps of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Śrīla Gadādhara dāsa one night went to the house of the Kāzī and requested him to chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra. The Kāzī replied, “All right, I shall chant Hare Kṛṣṇa tomorrow.” On hearing this, Śrīla Gadādhara dāsa Prabhu began to dance, and he said, “Why tomorrow? You have already chanted the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra, so simply continue.”…
(CC Adi 10.53 purport)