A high pressure discharge lamp lighting device comprising: a power converting circuit that converts power inputted from a DC power source and outputs the power to a high-pressure discharge lamp; and a control circuit that controls the power converting circuit, wherein: in starting lighting of the high-pressure discharge lamp, the control circuit continues a starting operation of controlling the power converting circuit so as to output a high voltage necessary for start of lighting of the high-pressure discharge lamp to the high-pressure discharge lamp for a predetermined starting period at least while the high-pressure discharge lamp is not lighted, characterized in that after the starting operation the control circuit performs a determining operation of comparing an effective value of a voltage (V1a) between both ends of the high-pressure discharge lamp with a predetermined start determining voltage; the control circuit performs the starting operation for the starting period and the determining operation again when the effective value of the voltage (V1a) between both ends of the high-pressure discharge lamp is equal to or larger than the start determining voltage in the determining operation; and the control circuit performs the starting operation again before starting a steady operation of controlling the power converting circuit so as to keep lighting of the high-pressure discharge lamp when the effective value of the voltage (V1a) between both ends of the high-pressure discharge lamp is smaller than the start determining voltage in the determining operation. a power converting circuit that converts power inputted from a DC power source and outputs the power to a high-pressure discharge lamp; and a control circuit that controls the power converting circuit, wherein: in starting lighting of the high-pressure discharge lamp, the control circuit continues a starting operation of controlling the power converting circuit so as to output a high voltage necessary for start of lighting of the high-pressure discharge lamp to the high-pressure discharge lamp for a predetermined starting period at least while the high-pressure discharge lamp is not lighted, characterized in that after the starting operation the control circuit performs a determining operation of comparing an effective value of a voltage (V1a) between both ends of the high-pressure discharge lamp with a predetermined start determining voltage; the control circuit performs the starting operation for the starting period and the determining operation again when the effective value of the voltage (V1a) between both ends of the high-pressure discharge lamp is equal to or larger than the start determining voltage in the determining operation; and the control circuit performs the starting operation again before starting a steady operation of controlling the power converting circuit so as to keep lighting of the high-pressure discharge lamp when the effective value of the voltage (V1a) between both ends of the high-pressure discharge lamp is smaller than the start determining voltage in the determining operation. in starting lighting of the high-pressure discharge lamp, the control circuit continues a starting operation of controlling the power converting circuit so as to output a high voltage necessary for start of lighting of the high-pressure discharge lamp to the high-pressure discharge lamp for a predetermined starting period at least while the high-pressure discharge lamp is not lighted, characterized in that after the starting operation the control circuit performs a determining operation of comparing an effective value of a voltage (V1a) between both ends of the high-pressure discharge lamp with a predetermined start determining voltage; the control circuit performs the starting operation for the starting period and the determining operation again when the effective value of the voltage (V1a) between both ends of the high-pressure discharge lamp is equal to or larger than the start determining voltage in the determining operation; and the control circuit performs the starting operation again before starting a steady operation of controlling the power converting circuit so as to keep lighting of the high-pressure discharge lamp when the effective value of the voltage (V1a) between both ends of the high-pressure discharge lamp is smaller than the start determining voltage in the determining operation.