Ashtar Command Book Blog : 2025

Friday, August 29, 2025

Framtidens vänster?

Fast förmodligen inte. Lite "spoiler alert" på detta nya politiska projekt...

Hur stora kan Framtidens Vänster bli i 2026 års val?

Några inlägg på vår ofrivilliga grannblogg. Medan Sydkorea försöker fjäska för trumpedunsen, har Nordkorea erkänt vad alla redan visste: de stred mycket riktigt på Rysslands sida i Kursk-regionen. A tale of two nations?

Sydkoreas nye president besöker Trump

Nordkorea erkänner officiellt att de stridit på Rysslands sida

Shadow over Drumshambo

This *is* some kind of Lovecraftian performance art, right? Right?

Right...?

Thursday, August 28, 2025

We are all the winners

ÄNTLIGEN! Konsumentverket har föreslagit att all telefonförsäljning helt enkelt ska förbjudas.

Drönardödare

Äntligen!

Saab lanserar missil mot drönare

Question of the day

ChatGPT can evidently respond to the strangest of questions (this is only an excerpt of a recent "chat" I had with the robot). And issue very original consumer warnings!

What form of Ganesha (Ganapati) should I worship if I want to remove obstacles in my regular office work?

Good question 🙏 — since Gaṇeśa (Gaṇapati) is universally revered as Vighneśvara (“Lord of Obstacles”), there are many forms depending on context: some are fierce, some esoteric, some very gentle.

If your goal is practical: removing obstacles in regular office or professional work, then the safest and most traditional choice is one of Gaṇeśa’s auspicious, right-hand path forms.

Recommended Forms for Your Purpose

Śrī Siddhi-Vināyaka

“Vināyaka who grants accomplishment (siddhi).”
Very common in homes and temples; invoked for success in everyday tasks, exams, jobs, and business.
Ideal for office/work-related challenges.

Śrī Heramba-Gaṇapati (optional, if you want stronger protection)

Five-faced form, protector against difficulties and adversaries.
Popular in Maharashtra and Nepal.
More “guardian” than everyday, so usually worshiped for bigger problems rather than daily office matters.

Śrī Mahā-Gaṇapati

A benevolent, all-encompassing form depicted with 10 arms.
Considered “supreme Gaṇapati,” often worshiped for general prosperity and well-being, including work.

Simple Vighneśvara / Ekadanta

The classic, one-tusked Gaṇeśa seen in almost every household shrine.
Safe, simple, and universally effective for office, studies, and daily success.

Mantra & Practice for Office/Work Obstacles

Mantra:
Om Gaṁ Gaṇapataye Namaḥ
(the most universal, work-and-study-friendly invocation).
Offerings:
- A small lamp (ghee or sesame oil).
- Fresh flowers (red or yellow preferred).
- A few durva grass blades (his favorite).
- Fruits or sweets, especially modaka (a dumpling sweet).
Timing:
- Best on Mondays, Wednesdays, or Chaturthi tithi (the 4th lunar day).
- Even a quick morning prayer before work helps set the tone.

✅ For your case, the Siddhi-Vināyaka or Ekadanta form is the most fitting — simple, safe, and traditionally worshiped for success in everyday professional and practical life.

Do you want me to also explain which forms of Gaṇeśa are not ideal for office/work worship (like tantric or warrior forms that are used in very different contexts)?

Yes, please.

Great — this is wise to ask, because while Gaṇeśa is almost always “safe,” some forms are rooted in tantric, battlefield, or esoteric contexts and aren’t typically invoked for everyday matters like office work.

Here are the main types you’d want to avoid for regular professional purposes:

1. Ugra Gaṇapati (Fierce Gaṇapati)

Depicted with a fierce expression, sometimes carrying weapons and surrounded by flames.
Invoked in certain Tantric rites for destroying obstacles in a violent or forceful way.
Worship of this form without proper initiation is not recommended — too intense for office-related goals.

2. Vakra-tunda and Other Martial Aspects

Some classical lists (like the 32 forms of Gaṇapati) include aspects such as Vakratunda (Curved Trunk) and Dvimukha (Two-Faced) who are invoked in more esoteric, protective, or martial contexts.
These are more about conquering enemies and cosmic threats than helping with your boss or deadlines.

3. Tantric / Left-hand Path Gaṇeśa Forms

In Kaula and other Tantric sects, Gaṇeśa is sometimes worshiped with offerings of liquor, meat, or in connection with Bhairava and Yoginīs.
These rituals aim at occult powers (siddhis), spirit mastery, or inner alchemy — very different from the “office success” context.
Such forms require guidance of a guru and are not part of mainstream household devotion.

4. Heramba Gaṇapati (sometimes)

Though Heramba is protective and revered, he’s five-faced and surrounded by lions — a strong warrior form.
Very powerful, but often reserved for protection against enemies, black magic, or major crises.
Can be too intense if your aim is just smooth office functioning.

5. Bhakti Exceptions

Sometimes Gaṇeśa is linked with forms like Vighnarāja (Lord of Obstacles) where he actually plays the role of testing devotees by placing obstacles.
These are respected symbolically, but not typically prayed to directly for help with work tasks.

✅ In short:
Stick with Siddhi-Vināyaka, Ekadanta, or Mahā-Gaṇapati for office/work success.

Avoid Ugra, Tantric, or martial forms unless you’re specifically guided by a tradition/guru and dealing with unusual circumstances (like protection from sorcery or major hostility).

In the dead of night

Oh Ketu, grant us liberation from the known, show us the path into the unknown! Turn this charnel ground into a cremation ground, a bridge to a higher existence!

Why I left politics

1. A crazy but mildly entertaining rant I posted here in 2020, which may or may not explain why I left politics, at least after a fashion...
2. 2. Tidlösa July 18, 2020 at 8:56 PM
    Amazing that British group "Socialist Action" still supports China. Might as well stop pretending, endorse Joe Stalin. Or didn't the Russians deliver the thirty pieces of silver?
Tidlösa July 18, 2020 at 9:00 PM
Maybe they should endorse Joe Biden, too, while there is still time?
Tidlösa July 22, 2020 at 11:56 PM
Still waiting for the American and British revolutionary left to officially endorse Joe Biden.
Tidlösa July 22, 2020 at 11:59 PM
Remoaners, Corona Karens, Biden bros, shills for China...the far left is really a sorry lot.

1914 was the tragedy, this is the FARCE.
Tidlösa July 23, 2020 at 12:02 AM
They actually topple Lincoln and Grant statues, why should I take these petit bourgeois crackpots seriously?
Tidlösa July 23, 2020 at 12:04 AM
I agree there is systemic racism in America. Ironically, BLM proves it since most BLM protesters are White college kids appropriating Black struggles! It's bizarre, really really weird...
Tidlösa July 23, 2020 at 12:19 AM
I agree with the liberals that the US should stay in Syria and Afghanistan, but I'm surprised that this is now considered a "leftist" position, lol.
Tidlösa July 23, 2020 at 12:21 AM
Could we get Antifa to protest in support of US troops in, say, northern Syria? Ha ha, basic bitches!
Tidlösa July 23, 2020 at 12:23 AM
At this point, most leftists are simply useless tools of some establishment faction or clique. Why even bother with them anymore?
Tidlösa July 23, 2020 at 12:24 AM
Seriously considering becoming a rightist, why bother with the left anymore?
Tidlösa July 23, 2020 at 12:28 AM
The 2020 left is a hybrid between Queers, John Bolton and Chinese genocide, I mean, what the fuck.
Tidlösa July 23, 2020 at 12:30 AM
Well, at least it's an interesting psy-op...
Tidlösa July 23, 2020 at 12:33 AM
Of course, a large segment of the left became globo-liberal assets already during the 1990's.
Tidlösa July 23, 2020 at 12:36 AM
After being the useless fools of Soviet imperialism, they seamlessly morphed into Clintonistas. OK, thanx for your services, lol.
Tidlösa July 23, 2020 at 12:38 AM
Will they morph again? That seems unlikely at this point. They will go down with the entire post-Soviet world "order".
Tidlösa July 23, 2020 at 12:39 AM
They wanted to kill the West, now they are committing suicide. Goodbye!
Tidlösa July 23, 2020 at 12:41 AM
Had I been a globo-liberal, I would have thanked the soft and Trotskyite left for their support for Clinton, Bush, Obama and Biden!
Tidlösa July 23, 2020 at 12:46 AM
What will you do in the decades ahead, when populism, resource wars and climate change will dominate politics? You *do* realize that both globo-liberalism and revolutionary socialism are FUCKED, right?
Tidlösa July 23, 2020 at 12:48 AM
It's over for you at this point, by 2030 or 2040,none of you will be left!
Tidlösa July 23, 2020 at 12:48 AM
Note the double entendre in the previous posting...

Another night, another cult

When I visited Stockholm recently, I actually spotted the Swedish office of the "Universal Church" from the bus and obviously asked the AI about it. Answer in five seconds. Sometimes all that nuclear power is well spent!

What is UCKG Universal Church?

The UCKG (Universal Church of the Kingdom of God) is a large Pentecostal / Neo-Pentecostal Christian denomination that began in Brazil in 1977. In Portuguese it’s called Igreja Universal do Reino de Deus (IURD), founded in Rio de Janeiro by Edir Macedo, who later became a billionaire media owner and one of Brazil’s most influential religious figures.

Here are the key points:

1. Core Identity

Type: Neo-Pentecostal megachurch.
Theology: Prosperity gospel, spiritual warfare, deliverance from demons, and faith healing.
Style: Very charismatic — services are emotional, with loud preaching, exorcisms, and testimonies.

2. Teachings & Practices

Prosperity Theology: God blesses true believers with financial success and health. Giving tithes and offerings is emphasized as a way to “unlock” blessings.
Exorcism / Spiritual Warfare: A central feature. Pastors often perform public exorcisms, “casting out” evil spirits blamed for illness, addiction, poverty, or family problems.
Faith Healing: Prayer and laying on of hands for healing physical and emotional issues.
Strict Lifestyle: Members are discouraged from participating in Afro-Brazilian religions (like Candomblé or Umbanda), which the church frames as demonic.

3. Global Expansion

Since the 1980s, UCKG has expanded massively, especially in Latin America, Africa, Europe, and North America.
Today it claims millions of members worldwide in over 100 countries.
Its headquarters is the colossal Temple of Solomon in São Paulo (inaugurated 2014), built as a modern replica of the biblical temple.

4. Controversies

Prosperity gospel critics accuse UCKG of exploiting poor people by urging them to give money in exchange for promises of miracles.
Exorcism practices have been controversial, sometimes staged in sensational ways.
Founder Edir Macedo has faced accusations of fraud, money laundering, and abuse of power — though he remains highly influential in Brazilian politics and media.
Its antagonism toward Afro-Brazilian traditions has drawn strong criticism as religious intolerance.

5. Sociological Role

In Brazil, UCKG is not just a church but a cultural and political force.
It runs TV and radio networks, publishing houses, charities, and has close ties with political parties.
It represents the new wave of Pentecostalism that blends religion, mass media, and prosperity ideology.

✅ In short: The UCKG is a Brazilian-born neo-Pentecostal megachurch known for exorcisms, prosperity teaching, and massive global expansion — deeply influential but also highly controversial.

Would you like me to also compare UCKG’s style with traditional Catholicism and Afro-Brazilian religions, since it defines itself partly against those?

Celibate warriors

Some speculations on the Book of Revelation I haven´t heard before. Specifically the 144,000. And yes, they are secular-scholarly speculations, not theological. Are the 144,000 actually meant to be Jewish warriors? Note the Qumran connection. Short form: "John" and Paul probably wouldn´t get along very well!

Wednesday, August 27, 2025

Another kind of problems

Meanwhile, in the safest corner of Connectictut....

Grönlands sak är vår

Eller rättare sagt: Grönland är vårt. Eller snarare Danmarks. Fler amerikanska provokationer mot en nära NATO-allierad?!

USA försöker infiltrera Grönland

Into the fray?

Interesting that YouTube doesn´t even try to censor this kind of content...

Tuesday, August 26, 2025

Midnight essay

Some stray questions I asked the AI about Kali, Bhairava, Tantrism and such...

Why is Bhairava sometimes said to be the destroyer of ghosts and evil spirits, and sometimes hailed as their king?

This is a wonderful and subtle question — and it goes right to the heart of how Bhairava is understood in Śaiva traditions. His dual role as both protector against spirits and lord of spirits isn’t a contradiction, but reflects the logic of tantric religion.

1. Bhairava as Protector (Destroyer of Ghosts & Evil Spirits)

In many Purāṇic and folk settings, Bhairava is invoked as a guardian deity.
He wards off bhūtas (ghosts), pretas (hungry spirits), piśācas (ghouls), and other beings that cause illness, fear, or misfortune.
Worship of Bhairava (often with offerings like black dogs, liquor, or meat) is done to neutralize these entities — making him a kṣetrapāla, protector of the sacred space.
Hence, temples often have Bhairava as a guardian at the gate, ensuring no malignant force enters.

2. Bhairava as Lord of Ghosts & Spirits

In tantric and more esoteric Shaiva/Shakta streams, Bhairava is hailed as Bhūtanātha (“Lord of beings/spirits”), meaning he rules over the same forces he is said to destroy.
He doesn’t annihilate them in the sense of erasing them — instead, he subordinates them to his command.
The idea: ghosts, demons, and wild spirits cannot be destroyed by ordinary gods, but Bhairava’s terrifying energy absorbs, masters, and redeploys them.
Thus, many of his attendants (gaṇas) are exactly these beings, now in his service.

3. Why Both Roles?

It reflects a tantric paradox:

What threatens us can also protect us, when brought under divine control.
Bhairava’s energy is so fierce that it terrifies the terrifying — ghosts and demons become powerless before him.
But rather than banishing them to nothingness, he incorporates them into his retinue.
Hence, in some myths he destroys evil spirits, in others he is their king. Both are true: he destroys their independence, but reigns as their master.

4. Symbolic Meaning

On a psychological level: Bhairava represents the force that confronts our deepest fears, shadows, and unconscious drives.
He “destroys” them when they torment us, but “rules” them when we integrate and master them.
This is why Bhairava is especially invoked in tantric paths of fear-confrontation, cemetery rituals, and liminal worship.

✅ So: Bhairava is both destroyer and king of spirits because to destroy their harmfulness is to assert sovereignty over them. The same beings who cause fear become his servants once subdued.

Would you like me to show how this connects to the fierce guardians (dharmapālas) in Tibetan Buddhism, who also appear both as “terrifying demons” and as “protectors of the Dharma”?

Do all Hindus worship Bhairava, and if so, in what contexts? Can Bhairava be anybody´s ishta-devata?

Great question — Bhairava (a fierce manifestation of Shiva) is an important deity, but he occupies a specialized place in Hindu worship. Let’s unpack this carefully:

Do all Hindus worship Bhairava?

No, not all Hindus worship Bhairava. His worship is strongest in:
- Shaiva traditions (especially Kashmiri Shaivism, Kapalika/Tantric lineages, and South Indian Shaivism).
- Shakta traditions (as guardian of the goddess’s temples, especially Kali, Durga, and Tripura Sundari).
- Folk religion (villagers often worship him as protector of boundaries and guardian against evil spirits).
For many Hindus in Vaishnava, Smarta, or purely devotional traditions, Bhairava is respected but not central. A Krishna-bhakta or a Rama-bhakta, for instance, would rarely engage in Bhairava worship.

Contexts of Bhairava worship

Guardian of temples
- Bhairava is the kshetrapala (guardian deity) of Shiva temples. In many temples, devotees first offer respects to Bhairava before entering.
Tantric rituals
- In Tantra, Bhairava is invoked as a fierce, transformative force — destroying ego, ignorance, and obstacles.
- Certain forms (Kala Bhairava, Batuka Bhairava, Asitanga Bhairava, etc.) have specialized mantras and rituals, often performed at night.
Time and death
- Kala Bhairava is associated with time (kāla), impermanence, and death. His worship is sometimes linked with protection from untimely death and fear.
Folk and village contexts
- In rural India, Bhairava often functions as a protector deity (against ghosts, black magic, disease).
- Dogs, sacred to Bhairava, are fed as part of his worship.

Can Bhairava be an ishta-devata?

Yes, but rarely.
- In principle, any deity can be an iṣṭa-devatā (chosen personal deity) in Hinduism, since bhakti is flexible.
- There are Shaiva and Shakta lineages where Bhairava is the central deity of devotion.
- For most Hindus, however, Bhairava is not a common ishta-devata — he’s more often a secondary deity (upāsya-devata) for protection, while Shiva, Kali, Vishnu, Krishna, Rama, etc. serve as ishta-devata.
That said, in Kashmiri Shaivism, Bhairava is not just a deity but an ultimate principle — the supreme reality itself (Paramashiva as Bhairava). In this sense, yes, a practitioner might choose Bhairava as the highest goal.

✅ Summary:

Not all Hindus worship Bhairava — his worship is prominent in Shaiva, Shakta, Tantric, and folk traditions.
He is mainly invoked as a guardian, protector, and fierce destroyer of ego and obstacles.
Yes, Bhairava can be an ishta-devata, but this is relatively rare and usually within Shaiva-Shakta contexts or esoteric lineages like Kashmir Shaivism and Tantra.

Would you like me to also explain the different forms of Bhairava (Kala Bhairava, Batuka Bhairava, Asitanga Bhairava, etc.) and how devotees relate to them? That might help clarify in what ways someone could have him as their ishta-devata.

Does Bhairava have a female counterpart known as Bhairavi?

Yes — very much so. In Hindu tradition, Bhairava and Bhairavi are understood as a divine pair, much like Shiva and Shakti in their fierce forms.

Bhairava and Bhairavi

Bhairava = the terrifying, fierce manifestation of Shiva.
Bhairavi = the fierce, terrifying form of Shakti (the Goddess), often identified with Kali, Durga, or Tripura Sundari in her Ugra aspect.

Together, they represent:

Consciousness (Shiva, Bhairava) and Energy (Shakti, Bhairavi) in their destructive-transformative forms.
The dissolution of ignorance, ego, and illusion.
The fierce grace that destroys obstacles on the spiritual path.

Role in Tantra

In Tantra, Bhairava and Bhairavi are inseparable. The union of the two is the union of Śiva and Śakti — the cosmic polarity.
Many Tantric texts (e.g. the Rudrayāmala Tantra, Bhairava Tantras) explicitly worship them together.
The Bhairava–Bhairavi yugalā (pair) is invoked in rituals of protection, liberation, and empowerment.

Bhairavi as Independent Goddess

Bhairavi is also one of the Mahavidyas (Ten Wisdom Goddesses) in Shakta Tantra.
She appears as a fiery, terrifying goddess:
- Seated on a lotus or corpse
- Red complexion, holding rosary and book, or weapons
- Associated with time, decay, and the inevitability of death, but also with supreme wisdom.
In this form, she is not just “consort of Bhairava” but an autonomous supreme deity.

Worship

In Shaiva temples, Bhairava is often worshipped separately, while in Shakta temples, Bhairavi is invoked in nightly Tantric rites.
Yogic practices (especially in Kashmir Shaivism) meditate on Bhairava as the blazing consciousness, and Bhairavi as the kundalini energy rising within.

✅ Summary:
Yes — Bhairava’s female counterpart is Bhairavi, a fierce form of the Goddess, who appears both as his consort and as one of the Mahavidyas. In Tantra, they are worshipped together as Shiva–Shakti in their terrifying, liberating aspect.

Would you like me to also explain the practical side — like what Bhairavi sadhanas (devotional/ritual practices) look like, and how they differ from Bhairava worship?

Yes, please.

Great! Let’s look at how Bhairava and Bhairavi are worshipped in practice, and how their sādhanas differ but also complement one another.

Bhairava Worship (Sādhanā)

Bhairava is seen as protector, destroyer of fear, and embodiment of time (kāla). His worship often has a nocturnal and Tantric quality.

Common practices include:

Offerings: black sesame seeds, red flowers, liquor (in certain Tantric traditions), meat, incense, mustard oil lamps. Dogs are fed in his honor.
Mantras:
- "ॐ कालभैरवाय नमः" (Om Kālabhairavāya Namaḥ)
- "ॐ भैरवाय नमः" (Om Bhairavāya Namaḥ)
Vratas: Kala Bhairava Ashtami (8th day of waning moon, especially in Margashirsha, Nov–Dec) is a key festival.
Context: Often performed at night, sometimes at crossroads, cremation grounds, or temple gateways.

Purpose: protection, mastery over fear, release from obstacles, and realization of impermanence.

Bhairavi Worship (Sādhanā)

Bhairavi, as a Mahavidya, is both a terrifying goddess and a giver of wisdom.

Common practices include:

Offerings: red hibiscus, vermilion, wine, meat (in Vāmācāra Tantra), fruits, incense, ghee lamps.
Mantras:
- "ॐ ऐं ह्रीं श्रीं भैरव्यै नमः" (Om Aim Hrīm Shrīm Bhairavyai Namaḥ)
- Tantric mantras involving seed syllables like hrīm, klīm, strīm.
Yantra worship: The Bhairavi yantra (geometric diagram) is used for meditation and ritual offerings.
Context: Midnight rituals, full moon and new moon nights, and especially Navaratri.

Purpose: awakening of kundalini shakti, wisdom, transformative energy, and fierce protection.

Combined Bhairava–Bhairavi Sādhanā

In Tantra, the two are never really separate. Their union symbolizes the merging of:

Bhairava (Shiva/consciousness) = still, transcendent, timeless awareness
Bhairavi (Shakti/energy) = dynamic, fiery, manifesting power

Practices include:

Meditations from the Vijñāna Bhairava Tantra, where Bhairava teaches Bhairavi 112 dhāraṇās (methods of realization).
Rituals invoking both together for balance of consciousness and energy.
Yogic methods (kundalini yoga, mantra japa, visualization) where Bhairava is meditated upon in the crown, and Bhairavi as energy rising from the root chakra.

How They Differ

Bhairava sādhanā: Often protective, fierce, outer-facing — conquering fear, evil, and obstacles.
Bhairavi sādhanā: More inward and transformative — awakening hidden energy, bestowing wisdom, leading to liberation.
Together: They represent the union of consciousness and energy, without which realization is incomplete.

✅ Summary:

Bhairava worship: guardianship, protection, mastery of time, facing death.
Bhairavi worship: awakening Shakti, wisdom, inner transformation, fierce compassion.
Combined worship: a complete Tantric path, symbolizing Shiva–Shakti union, leading to liberation.

Would you like me to also explain the Vijñāna Bhairava Tantra story, where Bhairavi asks Bhairava to teach her the secret of liberation, and he gives 112 meditation techniques? That text is the core of their esoteric relationship.

Is Kala or Mahakala the male counterpart of Kali?

Excellent question — and the answer depends a bit on context (Śaiva, Śākta, or Tantric). Let’s unpack it carefully:

Kālī and Kāla / Mahākāla

Kālī (the Goddess) = “She who is Time / the Black One.” She represents Time, Death, Dissolution, but also the creative womb from which new cycles arise.
Kāla (Shiva) = literally “Time,” also meaning death or the devourer of all beings. One of Shiva’s fierce names is Mahākāla (“Great Time”).

So, yes: in many traditions, Mahākāla (Shiva as Time-Death) is regarded as the male counterpart of Kālī.

Their Relationship in Myth & Tantra

Consort Form:
- Kālī is usually said to be the Shakti (power) of Kāla/Mahākāla (Shiva).
- The Mahākālī–Mahākāla pair is central in Tantric traditions.
- The Goddess is seen as dynamic energy (śakti), while Mahākāla is silent, formless consciousness.
Iconography:
- Mahākāla: black or dark-blue, fearsome, three eyes, holding a trident, sword, and skull cup, wearing snakes or garlands of skulls.
- Kālī: equally fearsome, with lolling tongue, garland of severed heads, standing or dancing upon Shiva.
Tantric Understanding:
- Kāla (Shiva) is the ground of Time.
- Kālī is Time itself in motion.
- Without Mahākāla, Kālī has no stable ground. Without Kālī, Mahākāla has no manifestation.

Regional Traditions

Ujjain (Madhya Pradesh): Mahākāla is worshipped as one of the 12 Jyotirlingas, with Kālī as his consort.
Bengal & Assam: Kālī is dominant, but Shaiva Tantras describe Mahākāla as her eternal counterpart.
Tibetan Buddhism: Mahākāla is a major protector deity (dharmapāla), derived from the Hindu Mahākāla, and is seen as consort of certain fierce goddesses like Shri Devi (Palden Lhamo), a form of Kālī.

✅ Summary:
Yes — Kāla/Mahākāla is considered the male counterpart of Kālī. They are Time (male principle as silent void) and Time (female principle as active force). In Tantric worship, the pair is invoked together as the union of Shiva (Mahākāla) and Shakti (Kālī).

Would you like me to also explain why Kālī is often shown dancing on top of Mahākāla/Shiva — which is a very symbolic image of their relationship?

What is the ultimate purpose/goal of the Tantric traditions worshipping Bhairava-Bhairavi or Kali-Mahakala?

Beautiful question — you’ve gone right to the heart of Tantra. The ultimate purpose of Tantric worship of Bhairava–Bhairavī or Kālī–Mahākāla is not merely protection, power, or prosperity (though those are often secondary fruits), but something much more radical: direct realization of the Absolute through the union of Śiva (consciousness) and Śakti (energy).

The Goal in Tantra

Liberation (Mokṣa / Kaivalya):
- Just as in Vedānta or Yoga, the ultimate goal is liberation from the cycle of birth and death.
- But Tantra approaches it not by renouncing the world, but by divinizing experience.
Union of Śiva and Śakti:
- Bhairava / Mahākāla (Śiva) = pure, silent, unchanging consciousness.
- Bhairavī / Kālī (Śakti) = dynamic energy, Time, manifestation, the dance of life and death.
- Goal: to realize that these are not-two (advaya). Consciousness and energy, void and form, transcendence and immanence are one reality.
Transcendence of Fear and Death:
- Bhairava/Kālī worship is deliberately fierce. The practitioner confronts what is usually avoided: death, darkness, fear, sexuality, impermanence.
- By embracing them rather than fleeing, the Tantrika goes beyond duality (pleasant/unpleasant, sacred/profane).
- The result is fearlessness and freedom.

Tantric Method (Briefly)

Mantra & Yantra: Seed syllables (like hrīm, klīm, aiṃ, sauḥ) and sacred diagrams are used to tune the mind-body to the deity’s vibration.
Ritual (Pūjā / Homa): Offerings are made, sometimes in night vigils, cremation grounds, or liminal spaces, to dissolve boundaries between self and divine.
Kundalinī Yoga: Awakening Śakti in the body so that she rises through the chakras to unite with Śiva in the crown.
Bhāva (Inner State): The practitioner seeks to become Bhairava/Bhairavī, become Kālī/Mahākāla — identity with the deity is the realization.

In Texts

Vijñāna Bhairava Tantra: Bhairava teaches Bhairavī 112 meditation methods. The essence: liberation is available in every experience, if grasped in awareness.
Kālī Tantras: Kālī devours time, ego, and illusion, leaving only the eternal. By merging with her, the practitioner transcends mortality.

Ultimate Purpose Summarized

To realize non-duality: Śiva and Śakti, Bhairava and Bhairavī, Kālī and Mahākāla are not two beings but one reality.
To overcome the primal fear of time and death by merging with their source.
To achieve jīvanmukti (liberation while alive): living in the world with total freedom, seeing all as divine play (līlā).

👉 So while mainstream Hinduism often worships these deities for blessings, protection, or prosperity, Tantric worship aims at the radical goal of transforming every aspect of life — even the fearful, the forbidden, the dark — into a gateway to the Absolute.

Would you like me to show how this goal differs from the Vedāntic path of jñāna or the Bhakti path of devotion — so you can see why Tantra took such a unique route through Kālī and Bhairava?