Chandi Merle

"It's a temple figure, one of 12 that was stolen 25,000 years ago when Chandrila was sacked by Rakatan invaders."

―Davo Sculdun^[1]

A Chandi Merle was a temple figure of great significance in Chandrilan culture. The statues were originally a set of twelve that stood in a temple on the planet Chandrila around 25,000 years before the Imperial Era, but were stolen by Rakatan invaders.^[1] By 4 BBY,^[2] only eight of the twelve had been recovered and returned to Chandrila.^[1]

In 5 BBY, the curator Luthen Rael notified the Chandrilan oligarch Davo Sculdun of a rumor that a Chandi Merle was discoverable, and eventually secured the piece.^[1] The following year,^[2] Rael helped Sculdun bring what was the ninth figure back to Chandrila for the wedding of his son Stekan and Leida Mothma, intending for it to be a gift to the new couple. Rael helped Sculdun discreetly bring the large figure to the event, keeping it a secret from Mon Mothma, the mother of the bride-to-be. On the third and final day of the wedding, Sculdun unveiled the Chandi Merle.^[1]

Behind the scenes

A Chandi Merle first appeared in the episodes "Sagrona Teema,"^[3] and "Harvest" of the second season of the television series Star Wars: Andor.^[1]