Sankirtana−yajna Is the Only Recommended Yajna for this Age General Instructions Lord Caitanya introduced the sankirtana−yajna for the deliverance of all men in this age of Kali:
[Lord Krsna to Arjuna]: In the beginning of creation, the Lord of all creatures sent forth generations of men and demigods, along with sacrifices for Visnu, and blessed them by saying, "Be thou happy by this yajna [sacrifice] because its performance will bestow upon you all desirable things." The Lord created this material world for the conditioned souls to learn how to perform yajnas (sacrifice) for the satisfaction of Visnu, so that while in the material world they can live very comfortably without anxiety. Then after finishing the present material body, they can enter into the kingdom of God. That is the whole program for the conditioned soul. By performance of yajna, the conditioned souls gradually become Krsna conscious and become godly in all respects. In this age of Kali, the sankirtana−yajna (the chanting of the names of God) is recommended by the Vedic scriptures, and this transcendental system was introduced by Lord Caitanya for the deliverance of all men in this age. Sankirtana−yajna and Krsna consciousness go well together. Lord Krsna in His devotional form (as Lord Caitanya) is mentioned in the Srimad−Bhagavatam as follows, with special reference to the sankirtana−yajna:
krsna−varnam tvisakrsnam
sangopangastra−parsadam
yajnaih sankirtana−prayair
yajanti hi sumedhasah
"In this age of Kali, people who are endowed with sufficient intelligence will worship the Lord, who is accompanied by His associates, by performance of sankirtana−yajna." (S.B. 11.5.32)
Other yajnas prescribed in the Vedic literatures are not easy to perform in this age of Kali,but the sankirtana−yajna is easy and sublime for all purposes.
¯Bhagavad−gita As It Is 3.10
Of all sacrifices, chanting of the holy name is the simplest and purest: [Lord Krsna to Arjuna]:
… Of sacrifices I am the chanting of the holy names [japa]… Of all the sacrifices, the chanting of Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare is the purest representation of Krsna. Sometimes animal sacrifices are recommended, but in the sacrifice of Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, there is no question of violence. It is the simplest and the purest.
¯Bhagavad−gita As It Is 10.25