Mace Windu's lightsaber is purple primarily because actor Samuel L. Jackson requested a purple blade to help his character stand out distinctly in battle scenes. He wanted a unique color since he saw Windu as "the second baddest Jedi in the universe next to Yoda." George Lucas agreed to this request, and the purple color was added in post-production of the films. In the Star Wars lore, the purple lightsaber reflects Mace Windu's unique connection to the Force, representing a rare balance of both light and dark side elements. Purple symbolizes a mixture of blue (typically Jedi) and red (Sith), fitting Windu's complex character who uses a fighting form called Vaapad that channels some darker emotions but without succumbing to the dark side. The purple lightsaber also signifies his extraordinary strength and moral ambiguity, setting him apart from other Jedi who typically wielded blue or green blades. There is also a non-canon story from Star Wars Legends where a young Mace Windu was gifted purple crystals from a native he healed on the planet Hurikane, which he then used to create his lightsaber. However, this origin is less emphasized in current canon. In summary, Mace Windu's purple lightsaber was created out of a practical production request with deep symbolic meaning added later in the Star Wars universe to reflect his unique Force abilities and personality. Purple signifies his rare connection to both the light and dark sides of the Force and his distinctive fighting style.
