A high pressure discharge lamp lighting device, comprising: an electric power supply circuit for supplying electric power to a high-pressure discharge lamp; a starting voltage generating circuit for generating a starting high voltage to start discharging the high-pressure discharge lamp; and a control circuit for controlling the electric power supply circuit and the starting voltage generating circuit, the control circuit comprising: lighting discrimination means adapted to discriminate whether or not the high-pressure discharge lamp is lighting; means adapted to switch between a first operation period to operate the starting voltage generating circuit to start discharging the high-pressure discharge lamp and a second operation period to maintain a steady arc discharge after the high-pressure discharge lamp has started discharging, based on a result of discrimination from the lighting discrimination means; measurement means adapted to measure a duration of the first operation period; means (33, 34) adapted to stop the operation of the starting voltage generating circuit during the first operation period when the cumulative total of the duration of the first operation period exceeds a time limit; measure means for measuring the duration of the second operation period; and reset means adapted to initialize the measured duration of the first operation period measured by the measurement means upon continuation of the second operation period for a reference time or longer. an electric power supply circuit for supplying electric power to a high-pressure discharge lamp; a starting voltage generating circuit for generating a starting high voltage to start discharging the high-pressure discharge lamp; and a control circuit for controlling the electric power supply circuit and the starting voltage generating circuit, the control circuit comprising: lighting discrimination means adapted to discriminate whether or not the high-pressure discharge lamp is lighting; means adapted to switch between a first operation period to operate the starting voltage generating circuit to start discharging the high-pressure discharge lamp and a second operation period to maintain a steady arc discharge after the high-pressure discharge lamp has started discharging, based on a result of discrimination from the lighting discrimination means; measurement means adapted to measure a duration of the first operation period; means (33, 34) adapted to stop the operation of the starting voltage generating circuit during the first operation period when the cumulative total of the duration of the first operation period exceeds a time limit; measure means for measuring the duration of the second operation period; and reset means adapted to initialize the measured duration of the first operation period measured by the measurement means upon continuation of the second operation period for a reference time or longer. lighting discrimination means adapted to discriminate whether or not the high-pressure discharge lamp is lighting; means adapted to switch between a first operation period to operate the starting voltage generating circuit to start discharging the high-pressure discharge lamp and a second operation period to maintain a steady arc discharge after the high-pressure discharge lamp has started discharging, based on a result of discrimination from the lighting discrimination means; measurement means adapted to measure a duration of the first operation period; means (33, 34) adapted to stop the operation of the starting voltage generating circuit during the first operation period when the cumulative total of the duration of the first operation period exceeds a time limit; measure means for measuring the duration of the second operation period; and reset means adapted to initialize the measured duration of the first operation period measured by the measurement means upon continuation of the second operation period for a reference time or longer.