Butter Lamps

A Buddhist butter lamp is a traditional, often metal, chalice-shaped vessel used in Tibetan Buddhism to burn clarified yak butter (or oil) as a sacred offering of light. Placed on household shrines or in monasteries, they symbolize the illumination of wisdom, dispelling ignorance and negativity. 

Key Aspects of Butter Lamps:

• Symbolism: Represents the Buddha's teachings, mindfulness, and the light of wisdom, helping to focus the mind during meditation.

• Purpose: Used to generate merit, honor deities, guide the deceased, and symbolize the transformation of mundane substances (butter) into spiritual light.

• Material: Traditionally made of precious metals like gold, silver, or brass, and filled with yak butter or modern alternatives like vegetable oil.

• Usage: They are often burned in groups (e.g., 108 lamps) during festivals, pilgrimages, or rituals.

NOTE: One of the photos displays a battery operated tea light which serves as an allowable safer alternative to the traditional butter lamps.