Yak butter lamps, Tibet 2015
Butter lamps are to be found in all Tibetan Buddhist temples and monasteries throughout the Himalayas. The lamps traditionally burn clarified yak butter, but now often use vegetable oil or vegetable ghee. Each morning Tibetan Buddhists offer butter lamps to represent the illumination of wisdom, along with seven offering bowls (See About Offering Bowls) containing pure water (or symbolic offerings of washing water, drinking water, flowers, scent, perfumed water, food, and sound) before the images on their household shrine. The butter lamp is usually placed between the fourth and fifth bowls. At funeral ceremonies or when visiting temples and going on pilgrimage to sacred sites, Tibetan Buddhists often light a large number of butter lamps together at one time.
Yak butter lamps, Tibet 2015
Butter lamps are to be found in all Tibetan Buddhist temples and monasteries throughout the Himalayas. The lamps traditionally burn clarified yak butter, but now often use vegetable oil or vegetable ghee. Each morning Tibetan Buddhists offer butter lamps to represent the illumination of wisdom, along with seven offering bowls (See About Offering Bowls) containing pure water (or symbolic offerings of washing water, drinking water, flowers, scent, perfumed water, food, and sound) before the images on their household shrine. The butter lamp is usually placed between the fourth and fifth bowls. At funeral ceremonies or when visiting temples and going on pilgrimage to sacred sites, Tibetan Buddhists often light a large number of butter lamps together at one time.