174 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 6, Ch. 3
In spite of these yajfas, the members of our Society performed
sankirtana loudly with mrdargas, and I considered the sarkirtana 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 Per-
sonality of Godhead. We would simply have performed sarkirtana, 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, sarikirtana alone is sufficient. If the
members of our temples in the different parts of the world simply con-
tinue sankirtana before the Deity, especially before Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu, 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. Srila Jiva
Gosvami says that although sankirtana is sufficient for the perfection of
life, the arcana, or worship of the Deity in the temple, must continue in
order that the devotees may stay clean and pure. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta
Sarasvati Thakura therefore recommended that one follow both pro-
cesses simultaneously. We strictly follow his principle of performing
Deity worship and savkirtana along parallel lines. This we should
continue.

TEXT 26
ud fray afi aaeraed
aa AAT AE AAT |
is .
aH a Breneay gen
AMA MATH TAY SCT STTATS! NRE
evam vimrsya sudhiyo bhagavaty anante
sarvatmana vidadhate khalu bhdva-yogam
