Performing a sacrifice is a truly arduous task, for one must invite all divine beings. In this present age, one of discord, quarrels, hypocrisy, indifference, and sin, it is not possible to perform such costly sacrifices, nor to invite celestial beings to participate in them. Therefore, the original holy scriptures indicate that in the present age, intelligent people must understand that it is impossible to perform Vedic sacrifices. Yet, unless one pleases the divine beings, there can be no regularity in the course of the seasons or in the rains, for they are the ones who direct all natural phenomena. In this age, therefore, in order to maintain peace and prosperity in society, all intelligent people should perform the only appropriate sacrifice by chanting the holy names of the Lord's hymn:

hare Krishna, hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, hare hare

hare Rama, hare Rama, Rama Rama, hare hare

The names of God that compose the chant “Hare Krishna” are specifically intended to counteract the terrible consequences of the present age, the age of discord, hypocrisy, quarrels, indifference, decadence, and sin. No method of spiritual realization can be found for the present age as sublime as this chant, this major sacrifice, this chanting of the Holy Names of Krishna in Sanskrit, which means:

O Lord, O energy of the Lord, O Source of all happiness, please make me your beloved servant, allow me to serve you.

Krishna and Rama are the Holy Names of God, and Hare is none other than his internal energy, his energy of bliss.

Thus, one can please all the celestial beings by performing this sacrifice, which consists of inviting people and chanting Hare Krishna, followed by distributing a sacred meal. Peace and prosperity will then reign in the world. In this age, the performance of sacrifices has been simplified, since by chanting “Hare Krishna,” one can please Lord Krishna and, at the same time, please all the celestial beings.

By performing sacrifices, we can free ourselves from our obligations to the celestial beings, so that we can take complete refuge in the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

But in the present dark age, the age of discord, hypocrisy, quarrels, indifference, and sin, it is difficult to gather the various objects required for offering such sacrifices. People have neither the means to gather them nor the knowledge necessary to conduct such ceremonies.

In fact, they are not even inclined to perform these sacrifices. This is why, in this era, when the masses of mankind find themselves overwhelmed by misfortune, consumed by anxiety, and disturbed by various disasters, the only recommended sacrifice is the “sankirtana-yajna,” also called “the chanting of the Holy Names of God.” This is the most important of all sacrifices, instituted by Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the Golden Avatar, through which we can spread the glories of Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. It consists of any activity aimed at spreading the glories of Godhead for the benefit of all beings. Its main manifestation is the public chanting of the Lord's Holy Names, “hare Krishna,” always accompanied by dancing and the distribution of consecrated food. Indeed, the worship of Lord Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, through the sankirtana-yajna is the only practice recommended for the age in which we live.

The only sacrifice we can perform today, a sacrifice that Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the Golden Avatar, recommends to us, is the chanting of the holy names of Krishna, the Supreme, Primordial, Original, Infinite, and Absolute Personality of Godhead.

Hare Krishna, hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, hare hare

Hare Rama, hare Rama, Rama Rama, hare hare

This is the only truly pure sacrifice and the most important of all sacrifices, for God Himself is its original spiritual source.