05 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
In the age of Kali, the greatest common formula of sacrifice is the sankirtana yajna:
[King Pariksit to the personality of Kali]: Therefore, O friend of irreligion, you do not deserve to remain in a place where experts perform sacrifices according to truth and religious principles for the satisfaction of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Yajnesvara, or the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is the beneficiary of all kinds of sacrificial ceremonies. Such sacrificial ceremonies are prescribed differently in the scriptures for different ages. In other words, sacrifice means to accept the supremacy of the Lord and thereby perform acts by which the Lord may be satisfied in all respects… In this age of Kali, the greatest common formula of sacrifice is the sankirtana yajna. That is the opinion of the experts who know how to propagate the process of yajna. Lord Caitanya preached this method of yajna, and it is understood from this verse that the sacrificial method of sankirtana yajna may be performed anywhere and everywhere in order to drive away the personality of Kali and save human society from falling prey to the influence of the age.
– Srimad Bhagavatam 1.17.33
In the age of Kali, the only fruitful sacrifice is the sacrifice of the congregational chanting of the holy names of the Lord:
The sacrificial fire kindled by the sages of Naimisaranya was certainly full of smoke and doubts because of so many flaws. The first flaw is that there is an acute scarcity of expert brahmanas able to carry out such performances successfully in this age of Kali. Any discrepancy in such sacrifices spoils the whole show, and the result is uncertain, like agricultural enterprises. The good result of tilling the paddy field depends on providential rain, and therefore the result is uncertain. Similarly, performance of any kind of sacrifice in this age of Kali is also uncertain. Unscrupulous greedy brahmanas of the age of Kali induce the innocent public to such uncertain sacrificial shows without disclosing the scriptural injunction that in the age of Kali there is no fruitful sacrificial performance but the sacrifice of the congregational chanting of the holy name of the Lord.
– Srimad Bhagavatam 1.18.12
Sankirtana yajna is the proper yajna for the Kali−yuga:
When learned sages and brahmanas assemble to chant Vedic mantras, some of them also engage in arguing about the conclusion of the scriptures. Thus some of the sages and brahmanas were arguing, and some of them were chanting the Vedic mantras, so the entire atmosphere was surcharged with transcendental sound vibration. This transcendental sound vibration has been simplified in the transcendental vibration
hare krsna hare krsna krsna krsna hare hare
hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare
In this age, no one is expected to be highly educated in the Vedic ways of understanding because people are very slow, lazy and unfortunate. Therefore Lord Caitanya has recommended the sound vibration Hare Krsna, and in the Srimad Bhagavatam (11.5.32) it is also recommended: yajnaih sankirtana−prayair yajanti hi sumedhasah. At the present moment it is impossible to gather sacrificial necessities because of the poverty of the population and their lack of knowledge in Vedic mantras. Therefore for this age it is recommended that people gather together and chant the Hare Krsna mantra to satisfy the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is accompanied by His associates. Indirectly this indicates Lord Caitanya, who is accompanied by His associates Nityananda, Advaita and others. That is the process of performing yajna in this age.
– Srimad Bhagavatam 4.4.6
Because Krsna is everything, one who chants Hare Krsna is performing all kinds of yajnas:
[The brahmanas at Daksa's sacrifice to Lord Visnu]: The brahmanas said: Dear Lord, You are sacrifice personified. You are the offering of clarified butter, You are the fire, You are the chanting of Vedic hymns by which the sacrifice is conducted, You are the fuel, You are he flame, You are the kusa grass, ant You are the sacrificial pots. You are the priests who perform the yajna, You are the demigods headed by Indra, and You are the sacrificial animal. Everything that is sacrificed is You or Your energy.
In this statement Lord Visnu's all−pervasiveness is partially explained. It is said in the Visnu Purana that as a fire situated in one place emanates its heat and illumination everywhere, so whatever we see within the material or spiritual worlds is nothing but a manifestation of different energies emanating from the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The brahmanas' statement is that Lord Visnu is everything−the fire, the offering, the clarified butter, the utensils, the place of sacrifice and the kusa. He is everything. It is confirmed herein that the performance of sankirtana yajna in this age is as good as all other yajnas in all other ages. If one performs sankirtana yajna by chanting
hare krsna hare krsna krsna krsna hare hare
hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare
there is no need to arrange elaborate paraphernalia for the prescribed sacrificial ceremonies recommended in the Vedas. In the chant of the holy names, Hare and Krsna, Hare means the energy of Krsna, and Krsna is the visnu−tattva. Combined together they are everything. In this age, persons are harassed by the influence of Kali−yuga and cannot arrange for all the requisite paraphernalia for performing sacrifice as recommended in the Vedas. But if one simply chants Hare Krsna, it is to be understood that he is performing all kinds of yajna because there is nothing within our vision except Hare (the energy of Krsna) and Krsna.
– Srimad Bhagavatam 4.7.45
In this age, sankirtana yajna, chanting of the holy name of the Lord, is more important than Vedic ritualistic sacrifices:
[Yamaraja to the Yamadutas]: Because they are bewildered by the illusory energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Yajnavalkya, Jaimini and other compilers of the religious scriptures cannot know the secret, confidential religious system of the twelve mahajanas. They cannot understand the transcendental value of performing devotional service or chanting the Hare Krsna mantra. Because their minds are attracted to the ritualistic ceremonies mentioned in the Vedas−especially the Yajur Veda, Sama Veda and Rg Veda−their intelligence has become dull. They are busy collecting the ingredients for ritualistic ceremonies that yield only temporary benefits, such as elevation to Svargaloka for material happiness. They are not attracted to the sankirtana movement; instead they are interested in dharma, artha, kama and moksa.
Since one may easily achieve the highest success by chanting the holy name of the Lord, one may ask why there are so many Vedic ritualistic ceremonies and why people are attracted to them. This verse answers that question. As stated in Bhagavad gita (15.15), vedais ca sarvair aham eva vedyah: the real purpose of studying the Vedas is to approach the lotus feet of Lord Krsna. Unfortunately, unintelligent people bewildered by the grandeur of Vedic yajnas want to see gorgeous sacrifices performed. They want Vedic mantras chanted and huge amounts of money spent for such ceremonies. Sometimes we have to observe the Vedic ritualistic ceremonies to please such unintelligent men. Recently, when we established a large Krsna−Balarama temple in Vrndavana, we were obliged to have Vedic ceremonies enacted by brahmanas because the inhabitants of Vrndavana, especially the smarta−brahmanas, would not accept Europeans and Americans as bona fide brahmanas. Thus we had to engage brahmanas to perform costly yajnas. In spite of these yajnas, the members of our Society performed sankirtana loudly with mrdangas, and I considered the sankirtana more important than the Vedic ritualistic ceremonies. Both the ceremonies and the sankirtana were going on simultaneously. The ceremonies were meant for persons interested in Vedic rituals for elevation to heavenly planets (jadi−krta−matir madhu−puspitayam), whereas the sankirtana was meant for pure devotees interested in pleasing the Supreme Personality of Godhead. We would simply have performed sankirtana, but then the inhabitants of Vrndavana would not have taken the installation ceremony seriously. As explained here, the Vedic performances are meant for those whose intelligence has been dulled by the flowery language of the Vedas, which describe fruitive activities intended to elevate one to the higher planets. Especially in this age of Kali, sankirtana alone is sufficient. If the members of our temples in the different parts of the world simply continue sankirtana before the Deity, especially before Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, they will remain perfect. There is no need of any other performances.
– Srimad Bhagavatam 6.3.25
[Sukracarya to Lord Visnu]: There may be discrepancies in pronouncing the mantras and observing the regulative principles, and, moreover, there may be discrepancies in regard to time, place, person and paraphernalia. But when Your Lordship's holy name is chanted, everything becomes faultless.
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu has recommended:
harer nama harer nama harer namaiva kevalam
kalau nasty eva nasty eva nasty eva gatir anyatha
[Adi 17.21]
"In this age of quarrel and hypocrisy the only means of deliverance is chanting the holy name of the Lord. There is no other way. There is no other way. There is no other way." (Brhan naradiya Purana 38.126)
In this age of Kali, it is extremely difficult to perform Vedic ritualistic ceremonies or sacrifices perfectly. Hardly anyone can chant the Vedic mantras with perfect pronunciation or accumulate the paraphernalia for Vedic performances. Therefore the sacrifice recommended in this age is sankirtana, constant chanting of the holy name of the Lord. Yajnaih sankirtana−prayair yajanti hi sumedhasah (Srimad Bhagavatam 11.5.32). Instead of wasting time performing Vedic sacrifices, those who are intelligent, those who possess good brain substance, should take to the chanting of the Lord's holy name and thus perform sacrifice perfectly. I have seen that many religious leaders are addicted to performing yajnas and spending hundreds and thousands of rupees for imperfect sacrificial performances. This is a lesson for those who unnecessarily execute such imperfect sacrifices. We should take the advice of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu (yajnaih sankirtana−prayair yajanti hi sumedhasah). Although Sukracarya was a strict brahmana addicted to ritualistic activities, he also admitted, nischidram anusankirtanam tava: "My Lord, constant chanting of the holy name of Your Lordship makes everything perfect." In Kali−yuga the Vedic ritualistic ceremonies cannot be performed as perfectly as before. Therefore Srila Jiva Gosvami has recommended that although one should take care to follow all the principles in every kind of spiritual activity, especially in worship of the Deity, there is still a chance of discrepancies, and one should compensate for this by chanting the holy name of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In our Krsna consciousness movement we therefore give special stress to the chanting of the Hare Krsna mantra in all activities.
– Srimad Bhagavatam 8.23.16
Those who are intelligent in this age take to sankirtana yajna rather than karma−kandiya yajnas:
It is said, tretayam yajato makhaih: in Treta−yuga, if one performed yajnas, he would get the results of those yajnas. By performing visnu yajna specifically, one could even achieve the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Of course, yajna is intended to please the Supreme Personality of Godhead… Yajnas for enjoyment of the senses are called karma−kandiya yajnas… Karma−kandiya yajnas are meant for sensuous persons, whereas yajna should actually be performed to please the Supreme Personality of Godhead. To please the Supreme Personality of Godhead in Kali−yuga, the sankirtana yajna is recommended. Yajnaih sankirtana−prayair yajanti hi sumedhasah [SB 11.5.32]. Only those who are very intelligent take to sankirtana yajna to fulfill all their desires, material and spiritual, whereas those who are lusty for sense enjoyment perform karma−kandiya yajnas.
– Srimad Bhagavatam 9.14.43
Because there are no qualified brahmanas and priests in Kali−yuga to perform Vedic sacrifices and chant Vedic mantras, only the sacrifice of chanting the Hare Krsna mantra is recommended:
On the day of extracting the soma juice, King Yudhisthira very respectfully received the special priest who had been engaged to detect any mistake in the formalities of sacrificial procedures. The idea is that the Vedic mantras must be enunciated perfectly and chanted with the proper accent; if the priests who are engaged in this business commit any mistake, the checker or referee priest immediately corrects the procedure, and thus the ritualistic performances are perfectly executed. Unless it is perfectly executed, a sacrifice cannot yield the desired result. In this age of Kali there is no such learned brahmana or priest available; therefore, all such sacrifices are forbidden. The only sacrifice recommended in the sastras is the chanting of the Hare Krsna mantra.
– Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead
To perform a sacrifice successfully, at least four expert priests are needed: one who can offer (hota), one who can chant (udgata), one who can kindle the sacrificial fire without the aid of separate fire (adhvaryu), and one who can supervise (brahma). Such sacrifices were conducted from the birth of Brahma, the first living creature, and were carried on till the reign of Maharaja Yudhisthira. But such expert brahmana priests are very rare in this age of corruption and quarrel, and therefore in the present age only the yajna of chanting the holy name of the Lord is recommended. The scriptures enjoin:
harer nama harer nama harer namaiva kevalam
kalau nasty eva nasty eva nasty eva gatir anyatha
[Adi 17.21]
The whole process of offering sacrifice is under the category of fruitive action, and such activities are extremely scientific. They mainly depend on the process of vibrating sounds with a particular accent. It is a great science, and due to being out of proper use for more than four thousand years, for want of qualified brahmanas, such performances of sacrifice are no longer effective. Nor are they recommended in this fallen age. Any such sacrifice undertaken in this age as a matter of show may simply be a cheating process by the clever priestly order. But such a show of sacrifices cannot be effective at any stage… Since the ultimate aim of life is spiritual realization, the direct way of invoking the holy name of the Lord, as mentioned above, is precisely recommended by Lord Caitanya, and people of the modern age can easily take advantage of this simple process, which is tenable for the condition of the complicated social structure.
– Srimad Bhagavatam 2.25.25, 26
In the present age of Kali, it is not possible to find expert mantra chanters; therefore all the sacrifices recommended in the Vedas are forbidden in this age. The only sacrifice recommended in this age is the chanting of the Hare Krsna mantra because in this age it is not possible to accumulate the needed funds for performing sacrifices, not to speak of finding expert brahmanas who can chant the mantras perfectly… It is stated here that many thousands of demigods named Rbhus became manifested because of the oblations offered in the fire and the chanting of the hymns from the Yajur Veda. Brahmanas like Bhrgu Muni were so powerful that they could create such powerful demigods simply by chanting the Vedic mantras. Vedic mantras are still available, but the chanters are not. By chanting mantras or chanting the Gayatri or rg−mantra one can attain the results one desires. In the present age of Kali it is recommended by Lord Caitanya that simply by chanting Hare Krsna one can attain all perfection… The word brahma−tejasa, used in this verse, is significant. In those days, brahmanas were so powerful that simply by desiring and by chanting a Vedic mantra, they could accomplish very wonderful effects. But in the present age of degradation there are no such brahmanas. According to the pancaratrika system, in this age the entire population is supposed to consist of sudras because the brahminical culture has been lost. But if anyone displays the signs of understanding Krsna consciousness, he should be accepted, according to Vaisnava smrti regulations, as a prospective brahmana and should be given all facilities to achieve the highest perfection. The most magnanimous gift of Lord Caitanya's is that the highest perfection of life is available in this fallen age if one simply adopts the process of chanting Hare Krsna, which is able to bring about the fulfillment of all activities in self−realization.
– Srimad Bhagavatam 4.4.32−34
It is the practice of the brahmanas conversant with the science to pronounce a Vedic mantra in the right accent. The combination of the mantra and Sanskrit words must be chanted with the right pronunciation, otherwise it will not be successful. In this age the brahmanas are neither well versed in the Sanskrit language nor very pure in practical life. But by chanting the Hare Krsna mantra one can attain the highest benefit of sacrificial performances. Even if the Hare Krsna mantra is not chanted properly, it still has so much potency that the chanter gains the effect.
– Srimad Bhagavatam 4.13.27
A Vedic sacrifice is not an ordinary performance. The demigods used to participate in such sacrifices, and the animals sacrificed in such performances were reincarnated with new life. In this age of Kali there are no powerful brahmanas who can invite the demigods or give renewed life to animals. Formerly, the brahmanas well conversant in Vedic mantras could show the potency of the mantras, but in this age, because there are no such brahmanas, all such sacrifices are forbidden. The sacrifice in which horses were offered was called asvamedha. Sometimes cows were sacrificed (gavalambha), not for eating purposes, but to give them new life in order to show the potency of the mantra. In this age, therefore, the only practical yajna is sankirtanayajna, or chanting of the Hare Krsna mantra twenty−four hours a day.
– Srimad Bhagavatam 4.13.25
The best purpose of Vedic rituals, Vedanta philosophy and Vedic mysticism is served by chanting the holy name:
[Lord Krsna to Arjuna]: All purposes that are served by the small pond can at once be served by the great reservoirs of water. Similarly, all the purposes of the Vedas can be served to one who knows the purpose behind them.
The rituals and sacrifices mentioned in the karma−kanda division of the Vedic literature are to encourage gradual development of selfrealization. And the purpose of self−realization is clearly stated in the Fifteenth Chapter of the Bhagavad gita (15.15): the purpose of studying the Vedas is to know Lord Krsna, the primeval cause of everything. So, self−realization means understanding Krsna and one's eternal relationship with Him. The relationship of the living entities with Krsna is also mentioned in the Fifteenth Chapter of Bhagavad gita. The living entities are parts and parcels of Krsna; therefore, revival of Krsna consciousness by the individual living entity is the highest perfectional stage of Vedic knowledge. This is confirmed in the Srimad Bhagavatam (3.33.7) as follows:
aho bata sva−paco 'to gariyan yaj−jihvagre vartate nama tubhyam
tepus tapas te juhuvuh sasnur arya brahmanucur nama grnanti ye te
"O my Lord, a person who is chanting Your holy name, although born of a low family like that of a candala [dog−eater], is situated on the highest platform of self−realization. Such a person must have performed all kinds of penances and sacrifices according to Vedic rituals and studied the Vedic literatures many, many times after taking his bath in all the holy places of pilgrimage. Such a person is considered to be the best of the Aryan family."
So one must be intelligent enough to understand the purpose of the Vedas, without being attached to the rituals only, and must not desire to be elevated to the heavenly kingdoms for a better quality of sense gratification. It is not possible for the common man in this age to follow all the rules and regulations of the Vedic rituals and the injunctions of the Vedantas and the Upanisads. It requires much time, energy, knowledge and resources to execute the purposes of the Vedas. This is hardly possible in this age. The best purpose of Vedic culture is served, however, by chanting the holy name of the Lord, as recommended by Lord Caitanya, the deliverer of all fallen souls. When Lord Caitanya was asked by a great Vedic scholar, Prakasananda Sarasvati, why He, the Lord, was chanting the holy name of the Lord like a sentimentalist instead of studying Vedanta philosophy, the Lord replied that His spiritual master found Him to be a great fool, and thus he asked Him to chant the holy name of Lord Krsna. He did so, and became ecstatic like a madman. In this age of Kali, most of the population is foolish and not adequately educated to understand Vedanta philosophy; the best purpose of Vedanta philosophy is served by inoffensively chanting the holy name of the Lord. Vedanta is the last word in Vedic wisdom, and the author and knower of the Vedanta philosophy is Lord Krsna; and the highest Vedantist is the great soul who takes pleasure in chanting the holy name of the Lord. That is the ultimate purpose of all Vedic mysticism.
– Bhagavad gita As It Is 2.46
By chanting the holy name, one need not perform any other kind of yajna to free one from indebtedness:
[Lord Caitanya to Sanatana Gosvami]: "'One who has given up all material duties and taken full shelter at the lotus feet of Mukunda, who gives shelter to all, is not indebted to the demigods, great sages, ordinary living beings, relatives, friends, mankind or even one's forefathers who have passed away.'"
It is said:
adhyapanam brahma yajnah pitr yajnas tu tarpanam
homo daivo balir bhauto nr yajno 'tithi−pujanam
"By performing oblations with ghee, the demigods are satisfied. By studying the Vedas, brahma yajna is performed, and by this the great sages are satisfied. Offering oblations of water before one's forefathers is called pitr yajna. By offenng tabute, bhuta yajna is performed. By properly receiving guests, nr yajna is performed."
There are five yajnas and five kinds of indebtedness−indebtedness to the demigods, great sages, forefathers, living entities and common men. Therefore one has to perform five kinds of yajnas, but when one takes to sankirtana yajna (the chanting of the Hare Krsna mantra) one doesn't have to perform any other yajna. In Srimad Bhagavatam, Narada Muni made a statement about the systematic performance of bhagavata−dharma in connection with statements previously made by the nine Yogendras before Maharaja Nimi. The sage Karabhajana Rsi explained the four incarnations of the four yugas, and at the end, in this verse (text 141), he explained the position of Krsna's pure devotee and how he is absolved of all debts.
– Sri Caitanya caritamrta Madhya lila 22.141
In Kali−yuga, sacrifice to the demigods is satisfied by sankirtana yajna:
By worshiping the Supreme Lord, one automatically serves all the demigods because they are parts and parcels of the whole. If one supplies water to the root of a tree, all the parts of the tree, such as the leaves and branches, are automatically satisfied, and if one supplies food to the stomach, all the limbs of the body−the hands, legs, fingers, etc.−are nourished. Thus by worshiping the Supreme Personality of Godhead one can satisfy all the demigods, but by worshiping all the demigods one does not completely worship the Supreme Lord. Therefore worship of the demigods is irregular, and it is disrespectful to the scriptural injunctions.
In this age of Kali it is practically impossible to perform the deva yajna, or sacrifices to the demigods. As such, in this age Srimad Bhagavatam recommends sankirtana yajna. Yajnaih sankirtana−prayair yajanti hi sumedhasah (Srimad Bhagavatam 11.5.32). "In this age the intelligent person completes the performances of all kinds of yajnas simply by chanting
hare krsna hare krsna krsna krsna hare hare
hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare
" Tasmin tuste jagat tustam: "When Lord Visnu is satisfied, all the demigods, who are parts and parcels of the Supreme Lord, are satisfied."
– Srimad Bhagavatam 4.2.35
The performance of yajna is a very difficult task because all the demigods must be invited to participate in the yajna. In this Kali−yuga it is not possible to perform such costly sacrifices, nor is it possible to invite the demigods to participate. Therefore in this age it is recommended, yajnaih sankirtana−prayair yajanti hi sumedhasah (Srimad Bhagavatam 11.5.32). Those who are intelligent should know that in the Kali−yuga there is no possibility of performing the Vedic sacrifices. But unless one pleases the demigods, there will be no regulated seasonal activities or rainfall. Everything is controlled by the demigods. Under the circumstances, in this age, in order to keep the balance of social peace and prosperity, all intelligent men should execute the performance of sankirtana yajna by chanting the holy names
hare krsna hare krsna krsna krsna hare hare
hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare
One should invite people, chant Hare Krsna, and then distribute prasada. This yajna will satisfy all the demigods, and thus there will be peace and prosperity in the world. Another difficulty in performing the Vedic rituals is that if one fails to satisfy even one demigod out of the many hundreds of thousands of demigods, just as Daksa failed to satisfy Lord Siva, there will be disaster. But in this age the performance of sacrifice has been simplified. One can chant Hare Krsna, and by pleasing Krsna one can satisfy all the demigods automatically.
– Srimad Bhagavatam 4.6.53
Lord Caitanya is the sankirtana yajna−purusa
As, in previous ages, Lord Visnu appeared to accept Vedic yajna, in this age, Lord Caitanya has appeared to accept our sankirtana yajna:
In the Srimad Bhagavatam it is clearly stated that in this age of Kali the only successful performance of yajna, or sacrifice, is yajnaih sankirtana−prayaih: the best type of sacrifice is simply to chant
hare krsna hare krsna krsna krsna hare hare
hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare
This yajna is offered before the form of Lord Caitanya, as other yajnas are offered before the form of Lord Visnu. These recommendations are found in the Eleventh Canto of the Srimad Bhagavatam. Moreover, this yajna performance confirms that Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu is Visnu Himself. As Lord Visnu appeared at the Daksa yajna long, long ago, Lord Caitanya has appeared in this age to accept our sankirtana yajna.
– Srimad Bhagavatam 4.7.41
By performing sankirtana yajna and satisfying the yajna−purusa, Lord Caitanya, one can derive all the results derived by great sacrifices in the past:
Yajna means Lord Visnu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and sacrifice means working for the satisfaction of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In this age, however, it is very difficult to find qualified brahmanas who can perform sacrifices as prescribed in the Vedas. Therefore it is recommended in Srimad Bhagavatam (yajnaih sankirtana−prayaih) that by performing sankirtana yajna and by satisfying the yajna−purusa, Lord Caitanya, one can derive all the results derived by great sacrifices in the past.
– Srimad Bhagavatam 4.19.7
The Supreme Lord, Narayana, is worshiped in His incarnation as Lord Caitanya by sankirtana yajna, the chanting of the holy names of the Lord:
[The sons of King Pracinabarhi to Lord Visnu]: The Supreme Lord, Narayana, is present among devotees who are engaged in hearing and chanting the holy name of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Lord Narayana is the ultimate goal of sannyasis, those in the enounced order of life, and Narayana is worshiped through this sankirtana movement by those who are liberated from material contamination. Indeed, they recite the holy name again and again.
The fact is that by performing sankirtana yajna one can immediately please the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Then Narayana Himself descends and immediately is present. In this age of Kali, Narayana is immediately present in the form of Lord Caitanya. Concerning Lord Caitanya, Srimad Bhagavatam (11.5.32) states:
krsna−varnam tvisakrsnam sangopangastra−parsadam
yajnaih sankirtana−prayair yajanti hi sumedhasah
"In the age of Kali, intelligent persons perform congregational chanting to worship the incarnation of Godhead who constantly sings the name of Krsna. Although His complexion is not blackish, He is Krsna Himself. He is accompanied by His associates, servants, weapons and confidential companions."
After all, human life is meant for pleasing Narayana, and this can easily be done by performing sankirtana yajna. Whenever there is congregational chanting of the holy names of the Lord, Gaura Narayana, the Supreme Personality of Godhead in His incarnation as Lord Caitanya, immediately appears and is worshiped by sankirtana yajna.
– Srimad Bhagavatam 4.30.36
