Drukpa Kagyü

Drukpa Kagyü (‘brug pa bka brgyud) - The founder of the Drukpa Kagyü lineage is either said to be Lingje Repa (1128-1188), or his principal disciple, Tsangpa Gyare Yeshe Dorje (1161-1211), the first Drukchen Rinpoche. Among the great masters of this school is the renowned historian Kunkhyen Pema Karpo (1527-92).The lineage acquired the name Drukpa in the twelfth century when, assuming the human form, Avalokiteshvara - the Great Lord of Universal Compassion - manifested in Tibet as the outstanding disciple of Mahasiddha Lingchen Repa. This sublime being was called Drogon Tsangpa Gyare, the meaning being: Drogon - the Protector of Beings. In 1206, exactly 800 years ago, Tsangpa Gyare Yeshe Dorje saw nine dragons flew up into the sky from the ground of Namdruk, and he named his lineage "Drukpa" or "lineage of the Dragons" after this auspicious event. In this way, Tsangpa Gyare became the founder of the lineage and was known as the First Gyalwang Drukpa.