The high pressure discharge lamp ballast drives a high pressure discharge lamp with a synthesized-waveform alternating current made of multiple frequency components, the high pressure discharge lamp having a pair of electrodes disposed to face each other. The ballast controls a ratio of the multiple frequency components per unit time; applies a synthesized-waveform current in accordance with the ratio to the high pressure discharge lamp; and detects a lamp parameter of the high pressure discharge lamp. The control circuit is configured to shift the ratio to a first ratio when the lamp parameter is in a first state, and shifts the ratio to a second ratio when the lamp parameter is in a second state. The control circuit changes the ratio stepwise when the ratio is shifted from the first ratio to the second ratio, or when the ratio is shifted from the second ratio to the first ratio.