The Srimad−Bhagavatam advocates nama−sankirtana as the essence of religion in the age of Kali: In Srimad−Bhagavatam it is repeatedly and clearly said that the essence of religion in the age of Kali is the chanting of the holy name of Krsna.
¯Sri Caitanya−caritamrta Adi−lila 3.50
Rather than inventing one's own religious process, one should accept the approved method of religion for this age−hari−nama−sankirtana:
[Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya to King Prataparudra]:
Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya replied, "This sweet transcendental sound is a special creation of the Lord known as prema−sankirtana, congregational chanting in love of Godhead. In this age of Kali, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu has descended to preach the religion of Krsna consciousness. Therefore the chanting of the holy names of Lord Krsna is the religious principle for this age. Anyone who worships Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu by congregational chanting should be understood to be very intelligent.
One who does not do so must be considered a victim of this age and bereft of all intelligence." Rascals propose that anyone can invent his own religious process, and this proposition is condemned herein. If one actually wants to become religious, he must take up the chanting of the Hare Krsna rnaha−mantra... Dharma, or religion, cannot be manufactured by a human being. Religion is the law or code of the Lord... Dharma refers to the science of bhakti−yoga, which begins by the novice's chanting the holy name of the Lord (tan−nama−grahanadibhih).
In this age of Kali it is recommended in Caitanya−caritamrta, kali−kale dharma−krsna−nama−sankirtana. In the age of Kali the chanting of the holy name of the Lord is the method of religion approved by all Vedic scriptures.
¯Sri Caitanya−caritamrta Madhya−lila 11.97−99