Maa Adya Mahakali is the planner (Nimitha) of every cosmic event. From Daksha's Yajna to Ramayana, she plays the victim and destroys adharma in the same breath.
MAA ADYA MAHA KALI is not just one of the female divine forms but the very first roopa of Adishakthi. She is the creator of the entire universe and beyond. In all the cosmic events she is the planner of the events (NIMITHA) — she purposely becomes the victim while also bringing about the end of a colossal event that gives out the required lessons for generations to come.
From the entire avatar of Maha Vishnu to the creation of the Shakthi Peethas, Maa's design is everywhere. This happens in our life too — she purposely triggers certain events, certain pain points, that ultimately will lead to her. That is why she is Nimitha Kali. Let us see certain incidences to understand why she is Nimitha Kali.
As Mata Sati immolates herself in the fire in Daksha's yajna, from Mahadeva's third eye emerge Veera Bhadra and Maha Kali who destroy Daksha's yajna, wherein Daksha's head is cut off and offered to Maa Kali. One of the names of Maa Adya Mahakali is Mata Sati, and one of her other names is Dakshahomavinashini — she is the cause of an event where Daksha insults his son-in-law Mahadeva, she goes there and confronts him, immolates herself, and destroys the yajna.
So what has happened? Who is the victim? If you say Mata Sati, then who is the one who destroyed the yajna? This shows the cause and the effect are the same — Adishakthi. And this event leads to the creation of the Shakthi Peethas, given by the sacrifice of her own body parts.
Let us see another instance. Maa Sita is also the name of Maa Adya Mahakali, who is the prime reason for the Ramayana to exist. She allows herself to be kidnapped by sending Lakshmana away to search for Rama. She purposely plays the role of the victim — even though she could have easily finished off Ravana, she allows the events to unfold to provide the Ramayana, a guide book to show how a Maryada Purusha lives, and the message of the Ramayana.
Adishakthi's presence in our lives will be marked by nimithas — situations where we have no other option but to travel the path of Dharma. This is also seen in the lives of Shri Krishna, Shri Rama, Parashurama, and Mahadeva himself.
Don't ask "why me?" when you are going through suffering. She will make you play the victim to cause greater events to happen in your life.
Mooladharanivasini is also the name of Maa Adya Mahakali — The One Who Resides In The Root Cause. For every pain and suffering in our life, she is the reason. She makes us burn our karmas so that we can come out as a different person. Be non-reactive and surrender to her. As you go higher and higher in the sadhana, nothing happens by chance with her. Everything is movement with her, wherein she says: you do, then only I can make you win. You will simply suffer, so that you can destroy adharma. When that happens without physically reacting, you will spiritually surrender to Maa.
What will she grant for the sadhaka? Everything she grants. But when you become her sadhaka you want nothing but her, and she lovingly comes only for her sadhaka. She lives through the sadhaka and leaves with him or her.
She is Paraprakruti and she is that darkness that can even swallow the sun. Just like the sun burns to emit light, her sadhakas too burn to become the beacon of light for many more generations to come. With her by your side no one can defeat you. There is no greater power than her — she is the ultimate reality.
We cannot understand her through a one-page answer, she is beyond that. But we can try to comprehend her through her 1008 names and from the teachings of Guru Praveen Radhakrishnan. That is how I have even attempted to answer this question.
In life the presence of a Guru is of paramount importance, and very much more in spirituality. The above is an excerpt from Guruji's teachings and my own understanding of them.
In this age of skepticism, if this answer resonates with you at any level, then it is her calling you towards her. Accept the calling and relish in the divinity — for what more joy than to be in the presence of the divine?
Om Sri Gurubyo Namaha. Jai Maa Adya Mahakali.