A discharge lamp lighting apparatus includes an input power supply, a power supply circuit, a bridge circuit having switching elements that performs AC operation of a discharge lamp, a lighting circuit, a control circuit that controls the power supply circuit, and a drive circuit that drives bridge circuit. An overcurrent suppressing circuit having a resistance element and a switching element connected to the resistance element in parallel therewith is connected between the negative side of the bridge circuit and the negative side of the power supply circuit, so that the overcurrent suppressing circuit automatically adjusts current flowing to the switching elements and suppresses the overcurrent upon starting the discharge lamp.