Butter Lamps & Candle Holders

Light is among the oldest offerings on the altar. It stands for wisdom, warmth and the overcoming of darkness. In Tibetan Buddhism this practice takes two forms: the butter lamp and the candle holder.

The butter lamp is the more traditional form. It burns with clarified butter or vegetable oil and a calm flame that barely flickers. This steadiness is part of its symbolism: the light burns constantly, like the wisdom it embodies. In Tibetan monasteries, butter lamps burn day and night as a sign of the continuity of practice. The candle holder is the more accessible form for everyday life. It gives an ordinary candle a dignified setting and turns lighting it into a mindful moment. The symbolism remains the same: the light burns for all beings, for the living and for those who have passed away.

Our butter lamps and candle holders are made of brass and copper by Tibetan artisans in the Himalayas, simply polished or engraved with lotus flowers, mantras and auspicious symbols. Each piece is made by hand, so no two are exactly alike. Over time the metal develops a patina that makes it even more personal. Together with offering bowls, light forms the classic foundation of altar offerings.