The Drukpa lineage emerges from the heart of the Kagyu “practice lineage” of Tibetan Buddhism, whose roots lie in the Indian mahasiddhas Tilopa and Naropa, and in the Tibetan masters Marpa, Milarepa, and Gampopa. Within this broader stream, the Drukpa tradition took shape in the 12th century, when the Kagyu teachings were crystallizing into distinct branches. It is within this historical and spiritual context that the Drukpa lineage came to be recognized as a prominent expression of the Kagyu emphasis on direct meditative realization, especially Mahamudra and related yogic practices. Thus, its origin is not an isolated event but a flowering of an already vibrant contemplative heritage.

The specific formation of the Drukpa lineage is associated with Tsangpa Gyare Yeshe Dorje, a disciple and lineage heir of Ling Repa Pema Dorje. Tsangpa Gyare is regarded as the founder who consolidated the teachings and institutional basis of the lineage. At Ralung in central Tibet, which became the principal seat, a striking visionary sign is said to have occurred: nine dragons, or “druk,” rose into the sky during a religious occasion. This auspicious omen gave the lineage its name, “Drukpa,” the “Lineage of the Dragon,” and came to symbolize its dynamic, thunder-like mode of spiritual transmission. From Ralung, Tsangpa Gyare and his successors established key monasteries and practice centers, allowing the tradition to spread widely.

As the lineage matured, it developed a distinctive profile within the Kagyu world, maintaining a strong emphasis on intensive meditation, yogic disciplines, and the integration of contemplative realization with monastic life. Successive masters carried the teachings across Tibet and into the Himalayan regions, where they took deep root. Over time, the Drukpa tradition became associated with several branches and important seats, yet retained a recognizable core of practice and doctrine grounded in the early Kagyu transmission. Its influence was not confined to spiritual life alone, but also intersected with cultural and regional identities.

This becomes especially evident in Bhutan, where the Drukpa Kagyu assumed a central role in shaping the religious landscape. A Drukpa master, Ngawang Namgyal, unified Bhutan and established the Drukpa Kagyu as the dominant Buddhist tradition there. Bhutan came to be known as “Druk Yul,” the “Land of the Thunder Dragon,” reflecting the deep intertwining of national identity and Drukpa spirituality. Through historical upheavals, the lineage has continued to maintain a strong presence in Bhutan, Tibet, and neighboring Himalayan regions, sustaining a living continuity with its Kagyu origins while offering its own distinctive articulation of the path of awakening.