The Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam advocates nāma-saṅkīrtana as the essence of religion in the age of Kali:
In Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam it is repeatedly and clearly said that the essence of religion in the age of Kali is the chanting of the holy name of Kṛṣṇa.
(Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta Ādi-līlā 3.50)
Rather than inventing one's own religious process, one should accept the approved method of religion for this age hari-nāma-saṅkīrtana:
[Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya to King Pratāparudra]: Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya replied, "This sweet transcendental sound is a special creation of the Lord known as prema-saṅkīrtana, congregational chanting in love of Godhead. In this age of Kali, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu has descended to preach the religion of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Therefore the chanting of the holy names of Lord Kṛṣṇa is the religious principle for this age. Anyone who worships Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu 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 Kṛṣṇa rnahā-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-nāma-grahaṇādibhiḥ).
In this age of Kali it is recommended in Caitanya-caritāmṛta, kali-kale dharma-kṛṣṇa-nāma-saṅkīrtana. In the age of Kali the chanting of the holy name of the Lord is the method of religion approved by all Vedic scriptures.
(Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta Madhya-līlā 11.97-99)
Excerpted from the Bhaktivedanta VedaBase 2011.