Material: Glass, Painted (with Buddhist characters printed on the front)

Size: 11.5 x 9 cm (approximate)

Description:

Butter lamps, known as "kame" in Tibetan, are common offerings in Tibetan Buddhism. Primarily fueled by clarified yak butter, they are lit in temples, monasteries, and homes. They serve not only as a practical lighting tool but also as a symbolic spiritual emblem, widely used in Tibetan Buddhist rituals and festivals. Butter lamps hold immense importance, viewed as a manifestation of Buddhist wisdom and compassion, capable of dispelling the darkness of ignorance and illuminating the hearts of all beings. In Tibetan Buddhist temples, butter lamps are often lit in rows, creating a warm golden glow that symbolizes the Buddha's teachings, wisdom, and compassion for all beings, aiding practitioners in their pursuit of enlightenment and awakening. For example, during important festivals like Ganden Ngamchoe (usually celebrated on the 25th day of the tenth month of the Tibetan calendar), devotees light thousands of butter lamps to commemorate the passing of Tsongkhapa, symbolizing the illumination of wisdom and the elimination of ignorance. These lights are not only used for personal blessings but also represent offerings to all sentient beings, praying for well-being, wisdom, and liberation, embodying the universal spirit of compassion of Tibetan Buddhism. In daily practice, lighting butter lamps helps accumulate merit, enhances meditation and ritual, and has a profound influence on Tibetan culture and religious life, even becoming part of daily life, such as family altars and temple offerings.

The Origin of Butter Lamp Usage

The use of butter lamps stems from the early Buddhist tradition of lamp offerings, dating back to the Indian Buddhist period. Initially intended for illumination, it evolved into a religious ritual symbolizing hope and blessings. A key story concerns the legend of Nanda, a disciple of the Buddha, who offered lamps as a token of devotion, symbolizing his pursuit of wisdom. When Buddhism arrived in the Tibetan Plateau around the 7th century, due to the cold climate and lack of candles or oil lamps, Tibetans adapted to using yak butter as a fuel. This readily available and stable burning material became a unique form of lamp offering in Tibetan Buddhism. This origin emphasizes the symbolic significance of transforming an ordinary substance (such as everyday butter) into a sacred offering, reflecting Buddhism's adaptability and practicality. Typically, butter is placed in a metal or ceramic lamp, lit with a cotton wick or wick, and allowed to slowly burn for several hours. In monasteries, monks regularly add butter to keep the lamps ablaze as a continuous ritual of offering. Furthermore, during special festivals such as the Butter Lamp Festival, this tradition is further strengthened, becoming a collective occasion of commemoration and blessing.

This is specially design to burn under the Revolving Butter lamp. Unlike other butter lamp it has central channel so that light of the lamp is fixed in the centre, thereby the revoling part on (bearing a mantra) top will keep on turning.

It comes with one butter lamp's 'dungray' stand and 3pcs. of 'Dungray' i.e. butter lamp tip or head. one 'dungray' can burn for around 168hrs.

In the Buddhist Tradition, Butter Lamps symbolize the clarity of wisdom. Offering Butter Lamps creates harmony, and generates merits while promoting success, prosperity, longevity, and world peace. It also helps to avert obstacles, pacify the upheaval of the five elements, and heal diseases. When offered on behalf of the deceased, prayers are usually recited for their liberation in the Bardo and rebirth in a Pureland.