Category: Ritual Objects | Tradition: Buddhism, including Vajrayana | Origin: Nepal, India, and Tibet
Other names: Tibetan: marme (མར་མེ་, meaning "butter lamp") | Sanskrit: dipa (दीप) | also called offering lamp, ghee lamp or light offering | similar lamps are called diya, diyo or deepam in Nepal and India
A butter lamp is a small lamp that holds a flame fed by clarified butter or oil, offered on a Buddhist altar as a gift of light. In Tibetan it is called marme, which simply means "butter lamp." Butter lamps are among the most familiar sights in Tibetan Buddhist temples, where rows of small flames glow before the images, and they are just as common on home altars across the Himalayas. This guide explains what a butter lamp is, where the practice comes from, what the light symbolizes, how butter lamps are used, and how to care for one safely.
What Is a Butter Lamp?
A traditional butter lamp is a small metal cup, often with a rounded body, a short stem and a flared base, which holds the fuel and a wick. Many lamps are fitted with a lid, and some stand on a separate dish or a small stand. The vessel is traditionally made from metal such as brass, copper or bronze, although clay and stone vessels are also used, and some lamps have a metal or wooden base to keep them stable. The fuel was traditionally yak butter in the Himalayan regions, and today clarified butter, known as ghee, is very common, with vegetable oil used in some places. The wick is usually made of twisted cotton fibers, though wool or other plant fibers are sometimes used, and it rests in the fuel so that it burns with a steady, gentle flame.
Butter lamps range from tiny single lamps to large temple lamps with many wicks, and from plain, simple cups to finely made ones, engraved or embossed with lotus petals and other patterns. They are placed on the altar before an image of the Buddha or another revered figure, and they are usually lit at the start of the day and burned while prayers are said. Because the lamp is small and the flame is quiet, a butter lamp suits a home shrine as well as a large temple hall, and it is one of the simplest and most beloved ritual objects in Buddhism.
Where the Butter Lamp Comes From
The offering of light is one of the oldest ways of honoring the Buddha. In the old Indian custom of welcoming an honored guest, a lamp was among the gifts offered, and Buddhists carried this courtesy into their devotion to the Three Jewels, which are the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha. Light is also one of the traditional offerings set before an image, alongside water, flowers, incense, perfume, food and music.
A well-known story tells of a very poor woman who could afford only a small lamp to offer to the Buddha. It is said that her lamp, given with a sincere heart, was the one that burned through the whole night, long after the grander lamps of wealthy donors had gone out. The story is often told to show that the value of an offering lies in the heart of the giver and not in its cost. In the Himalayas, where butter was a common household food, clarified butter became the natural fuel, and the butter lamp became part of daily devotion and of festivals in Tibetan and Newar Buddhist communities.
The offering of light is not limited to Buddhism. In Hindu worship, small lamps fed with ghee or oil, known as diya, diyo or deepam, are lit every day at home shrines and temples, waved before the deity during aarti, and lit in great numbers at festivals such as Diwali, which is known as Tihar in Nepal. Jain worship also includes lamp offerings, and in both traditions the light is commonly linked with knowledge overcoming darkness. In the Himalayas, Bon, the older religion of Tibet, also offers butter lamps, and in Nepal many households of different faiths light a small lamp each day. The Tibetan Buddhist butter lamp belongs to this wider human custom of offering light, and this article describes its Buddhist meaning and use.
What a Butter Lamp Symbolizes
The butter lamp is a teaching tool, and the flame carries several levels of meaning.
• Wisdom: the light of the flame stands for wisdom that dispels the darkness of ignorance. Just as a single lamp lights up a dark room, awakened understanding lights up the mind.
• Purity: the butter or ghee that feeds the flame represents purity, while the light itself stands for wisdom overcoming ignorance.
• Generosity: offering a lamp is a simple act of giving, and a practice open to anyone, whatever their means. The lamp gives its light to everyone nearby without holding back.
• Impermanence: a flame flickers, shrinks and finally goes out as its fuel is used up, which is a quiet reminder that all things change.
• Merit and dedication: lamps are often lit to share the merit of a good action with others, including family members who are ill or who have passed away, and for the benefit of all beings.
Interpretations differ between lineages and teachers, so this is a general overview and not the only explanation.
How Butter Lamps Are Used
In the usual practice, a butter lamp is filled with fresh fuel, the wick is trimmed and lit, and the lamp is placed on the altar. Many people light it with a short prayer or verse and dedicate the merit to the benefit of all beings. Some practitioners light one lamp every morning, and others light several, often in a row, for special days, for a teacher's visit or in memory of someone who has died. In temples, hundreds or even thousands of lamps may be lit together for festivals and ceremonies.
There are some customs around the flame. Many practitioners avoid blowing out a butter lamp with the mouth, and prefer to let it burn down or to put it out gently with a lid or a snuffer. The lamp is kept clean, and the old wick and the burnt residue are removed before it is refilled. The details differ between traditions, so it is best to learn the verses and customs from a qualified teacher.
A lit lamp is a real flame, so it needs a sensible measure of care. Keep it on a stable, non-flammable surface, away from curtains, paper and cloth, and do not leave it burning when no one is at home or when you go to sleep. If you cannot keep a flame, an electric or LED butter lamp is a common and respectful alternative that many people use on their altars.
Types of Butter Lamp
Butter lamps come in several forms, and knowing the differences helps when choosing one.
• Single traditional lamp: a small metal cup on a stem and base, often with a lid, suited to a home altar.
• Lamp with stand or dish: a lamp set on a separate stand or plate that catches drips and protects the altar surface.
• Multi-wick or temple lamp: a larger lamp with several wicks, made for temples, shrines and special occasions.
• Decorated lamp: an engraved or embossed lamp, sometimes gilded, with lotus petals and other auspicious patterns.
• Electric or LED lamp: a flameless lamp in the traditional shape, used where an open flame is not safe or allowed.
Names and forms differ between regions and workshops, so this is a general guide.
Materials and Craftsmanship
Butter lamps are traditionally made from metal. Copper and brass are the most common, bronze is also used for fine cast detail, and silver is chosen for finer pieces. White metal, a silvery alloy, is used for some lower-cost lamps, and many lamps combine metals or are gilded or plated and decorated with engraved or embossed patterns. Clay, ceramic and stone vessels are also used, particularly for simple lamps, and some lamps stand on a metal or wooden base. Handcrafted lamps are shaped, decorated and polished by hand, so small differences between pieces are natural. Metal is chosen because it is sturdy and heat-resistant, and because it can be polished to a bright shine that suits an altar.
Read more: What Is a Butter Lamp Made Of? | How Is a Butter Lamp Made?
Care and Placement
Place your butter lamp on a clean, raised altar or shelf, in front of the image it honors, and set it on a stable, heat-safe surface, such as a small plate or tray. Keep it away from anything that can catch fire, and never place it on the floor or within reach of small children and pets. Always make sure the flame is out before you leave the room. Use only a lamp made for an open flame, with a metal or other heat-resistant bowl, and do not burn fuel in a vessel made of plastic, resin or untreated wood.
After the lamp has cooled, wipe away the old fuel and soot with a soft cloth, and remove the burnt wick before refilling it with fresh fuel. Do not touch a hot lamp, and let it cool completely before you move it. Wash it gently if needed, and dry it well so that the metal does not spot or tarnish.
Polish the lamp with a soft cloth from time to time if the metal dulls, and avoid harsh cleaners, especially on gilded, plated or engraved surfaces. Metals such as brass, bronze and copper may darken naturally over time, which is normal. Heat can also mark the finish near the flame, so some darkening around the cup is to be expected with use. Keep the lamp for the altar only, and handle it with clean hands and respect.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a butter lamp?
A butter lamp is a small lamp that holds a flame fed by clarified butter or oil, offered on a Buddhist altar as a gift of light. In Tibetan it is called marme.
What does the light of a butter lamp mean?
It stands for wisdom that dispels the darkness of ignorance. It is also an offering of generosity, a reminder of impermanence, and a way of sharing merit with others.
What is a butter lamp filled with?
Traditionally, yak butter in Himalayan regions. Today clarified butter (ghee) is very common, and vegetable oil is also used. The wick is usually twisted cotton, and sometimes wool or other plant fibers.
Can I keep a butter lamp at home?
Yes. Many people keep one on a home altar. It is best placed on a clean, raised, stable surface, away from anything that can catch fire.
Are butter lamps used only in Buddhism?
No. Offering lamps with ghee or oil is also an important part of Hindu worship, where they are called diya, diyo or deepam, and lamps are used in Jain worship and by followers of Bon. This article describes the Tibetan Buddhist butter lamp and its meaning.
Is it all right to blow out a butter lamp?
Many practitioners prefer not to blow out the flame with the mouth, and instead let it burn down or put it out gently with a lid or a snuffer. Customs vary between traditions.
Can I use an electric butter lamp instead?
Yes. An electric or LED butter lamp is a common and respectful choice where an open flame is not safe, and many people use one on their altars.
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