The Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism began with the Indian Mahasiddha Tilopa who received teachings directly from the primordial Buddha, Vajradhara. Thus, the source of the Kagyu lineage is said to be the essence of Buddhahood itself. From Tilopa the lineage was passed to his heart son, the India Pandita Naropa, and from there to Naropa’s heart disciple Marpa Lotsawa (1012-1097).

Marpa's heart son was the enlightened Yogi Milarepa (1143-1123). Milarepa transmitted his teachings to Gampopa (1079-1153). Gampopa, Milarepa's best student, integrated Atisha's Kadampa teachings and Tilopa's Mahamudra teachings which created the Kagyu School of Tibetan Buddhism.

One of the successors of Gampopa’s lineage was Phagmodrupa (1111-1170). Phagmodrupa's intimate disciple was Lord Jigten Sumgon (1143-1217), who was said to be the reincarnation of the great Indian master Arya Nagarjuna. In 1179, Phagmodrupa established the great Drikung Thil monastery, which became the main Tibetan seat of the Drikung Kagyu School.

Since Lord Jigten Sumgon became the first throne holder, he is acknowledged to be the founder of the Drikung Kagyu lineage; a lineage which whose transmissions remain unbroken even today.

At present, the Drikung Kagyu Lineage is jointly headed by Their Holinesses, the 36th Drikung Kyabgon Konchog Tenzin Chokyi Nangwa (1942), who lives in Tibet and the 37th Drikung Kyabgon Konchog Tenzin Kunsang Trinley Lhundrup (1947) who resides at Jangchubling, the Drikung Kagyu’s main monastery in India.

VAJRADHARA	TILOPA (INDIAN SIDDHA)
NAROPA (INDIAN SIDDHA)	MARPA 1012-1097
MILAREPA 1040-1123	GAMPOPA 1079-1153
PAGMODRUPA 1110-1170	1 KYOBPA JIGTEN GONPO 1143-1217
2 KHENCHEN TSULTRIM DORJE 1154-1220	3 ON SONAM DAKPA 1187-1235
4 CHENGA DAKPA JUNGNEY 1175-1255	5 CHUNG DORJE DAKPA 1210-1278
6 THOKHAWA RINCHEN SINGHE 1212-1284	7 TSAMCHEDPA DAKPA SONAM 1238-1286
8 JONUB DORJE YESHE 1223-1293	9 CHUNG – NEYPA DORJE RINCHEN 1278-1314
10 NYERGYEDPA DORJE GYALPO 1284-1350	11 CHENGA CHOKI GYALPO 1335-1407
12 GOSHRI DHUNDUB GYALPO 1369-1427	13 RINCHEN WANGYAL 1395 -
14 CHOKYAL RINCHEN PALSANG 1421-1469	15 RINCHEN CHOKYI GYALTSEN 1449-1484
16 GYALWANG KUNGA RINCHEN 1475-1527	17 GYALWANG RINCHEN PHUNTSOK 1509-1557
18 RINCHEN NAMAYAL 1519-1576	19 PENCHEN SONAM GYATSO 1527-1570
20 CHOKLEY NAMGYAL 1557-1579	21 CHOGYAL PHUNTSOK 1547-1602
22 NARO TASHI PHUNTSOK 1574-1628	23 GYALWANG KONCHOK RINCHEN 1590-1654
24 KUNKYEN RINCHEN CHODAK 1595-1659	25 KONCHOK THRINLEY SANGPO 1656-1718
26 DHUNDUP CHOGYAL 1704-1754	27 KONCHOK TENZIN DRODUL 1724-1766
28 TENZIN CHOKYI NYIMA 1755-1792	29 TENZIN PEMA GYALTSEN 1770-1826
30 TENZIN CHOKYI GYALTSEN 1793-1826	31 KONCHOK CHOKYI NORBU 1827-1865
32 KONCHOK THUKJEY NYIMA 1828-1873	33 TENZIN CHOKYI LODRO 1868-1906
34 TENZIN SHIWAI LODRO 1874-1943	35 TENZIN CHOKYI JUNGNEY 1909-1940
36 KONCHOK TENZIN CHOKYI NANGWA 1942 -  .	37 KONCHOK TENZIN KUNGZANG TRINLEY LHUNDRUP  1946-  .