A discharge lamp lighting circuit includes an emission acceleration controller for detecting a voltage for a discharge lamp and for supplying power exceeding a rated value when the discharge lamp is initially lighted, and thereafter gradually reducing the power to shift the discharge lamp to a steady state. While the value of the power supplied when the lighting of the discharge lamp is started is employed as the maximum, the power supplied to the discharge lamp is controlled. Thus, the speed at which the power is reduced during a period of transition to the steady state is increased in consonance with an increase in the discharge lamp voltage.