174
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam
[Canto 6, Ch. 3]
In spite of these  yajñas , the members of our Society performed  saṅkīrtana  loudly with  mṛdaṅgas , and I considered the  saṅkīrtana  more important than the Vedic ritualistic ceremonies. Both the ceremonies and the  saṅkīrtana  were going on simultaneously. The ceremonies were meant for persons interested in Vedic rituals for elevation to heavenly planets ( jaḍī-kṛta-matir madhu-puṣpitāyām ), whereas the  saṅkīrtana  was meant for pure devotees interested in pleasing the Supreme Personality of Godhead. We would simply have performed  saṅkīrtana , but then the inhabitants of Vṛndāvana 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,  saṅkīrtana  alone is sufficient. If the members of our temples in the different parts of the world simply continue  saṅkīrtana  before the Deity, especially before Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, they will remain perfect. There is no need of any other performances. Nevertheless, to keep oneself clean in habits and mind, Deity worship and other regulative principles are required. Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī says that although  saṅkīrtana  is sufficient for the perfection of life, the  arcanā , or worship of the Deity in the temple, must continue in order that the devotees may stay clean and pure. Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Thākura therefore recommended that one follow both processes simultaneously. We strictly follow his principle of performing Deity worship and  saṅkīrtana  along parallel lines. This we should continue.
TEXT 26
एवं विमृश्य सुधियो भगवत्यनन्ते
सर्वात्मना विदधते खलु भावयोगम् ।
ते मे न दण्डमर्हन्त्यथ यद्यमीषां
स्यात्पातकं तदपि हन्त्युरुगायवादः ॥२६॥
evam vimṛśya sudhiyo bhagavaty anante sarvātmanā vidadhate khalu bhāva-yogam