Spiritual and religiousEast AsiaBuddhist
Butter lamp
In its own language: དཀར་མེ (Tibetan)
A lit candle made from clarified yak butter, kept in Tibetan Buddhist temples to aid meditation and symbolize enlightenm
Butter lamps are oil lamps filled with clarified yak butter. They stand inside Tibetan Buddhist monasteries across the Himalayas. Monks tend the flames while pilgrims offer fuel to gain spiritual merit. The light helps focus the mind during prayer.
When is Butter lamp kept?
Butter lamp is kept on daily within monasteries, and annually during Chotrul Duchen.
Butter lamps are sacred lights used in Tibetan Buddhist practice. They burn clarified yak butter to create a steady flame. These lamps help monks and laypeople focus their minds. They also represent the inner heat of spiritual awakening.
What they are
These lamps use clarified yak butter as fuel. Modern versions sometimes use vegetable oil or vanaspati ghee instead. You will find them in temples and monasteries throughout the Himalayan region. The flame is usually small and steady. It provides a soft glow for the interior spaces.
How they are kept
Monks manage the lamps with great care. Pilgrims often supply the oil to earn good karma. The careful handling prevents devastating fires that have damaged many buildings in the past. Some places keep the lamps in stone-floored courtyards for extra safety. This routine supports daily meditation practices.
What they mean
The light helps practitioners focus their thoughts. It transforms a simple substance into illumination. This mirrors the search for enlightenment. Esoterically, the flame recalls tummo yoga energy. This inner heat is central to tantric Buddhism schools like Kagyu, Gelug, and Sakya.
How Butter lamp is kept
Monks tend the lamps daily inside temple halls. Pilgrims contribute oil to gain merit. The community maintains strict safety protocols to prevent fires. The practice occurs year-round, with special emphasis during festivals like Chotrul Duchen.
When and where
Kept daily in monasteries. Also featured during the annual Butter Lamp Festival, known as Chotrul Duchen.
Found in Tibetan Buddhist temples and monasteries across the Himalayas. Common in regions with strong Tibetan cultural influence.
What Butter lamp means
The lamp converts physical butter into light. This symbolizes the path to enlightenment. It represents the inner heat of tummo yoga. The flame banishes darkness both literally and spiritually.
Questions people ask about Butter lamp
When is Butter lamp kept?
Butter lamp is kept on daily within monasteries, and annually during Chotrul Duchen.
What is a butter lamp?
It is an oil lamp fueled by clarified yak butter. It is a common feature in Tibetan Buddhist temples. The flame aids meditation and symbolizes spiritual illumination.
Where are butter lamps kept?
They are found in monasteries throughout the Himalayas. You can see them in countries with significant Tibetan Buddhist populations.
Why do people use them?
Pilgrims offer oil to gain merit. Monks use the light to focus their minds. The flame represents the transformation of ignorance into wisdom.
See also
Lalbaugcha RajaA Mumbai Ganesha festival where millions seek blessings before ocean immersion
Fire templeA consecrated sanctuary where Zoroastrians tend sacred fires and gather for worship
Prayer wheelA cylindrical wheel spun in Tibetan Buddhist practice to accumulate merit and wisdom
Tibetan prayer flagColorful cloth banners printed with mantras, hung in high places to spread blessings on the wind.Good reading and sources
- Butter lamp on WikipediaEncyclopedia
- More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos and video
- Wikidata recordOpen data
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Butter lamp", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). EveryParampara rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes. Traditions differ from one family, village and community to the next, and the people who keep them know them best. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-05.
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