Marpa Lotsawa stands at the very root of the Kagyu lineage as its principal Tibetan founder and first Tibetan patriarch. The Kagyu tradition traces its core transmission in an unbroken sequence from the Indian masters Tilopa and Naropa to Marpa, then to Milarepa, and subsequently to Gampopa. In this way, Marpa functions as the crucial bridge through which the Indian tantric heritage entered Tibet and took on a distinctively Kagyu form. His identity as “Marpa the Translator” reflects not only linguistic skill but also his role as a conduit of living spiritual instructions.

The connection between Marpa and the Kagyu lineage is grounded in his extensive journeys to India and Nepal, where he studied under renowned mahasiddhas such as Naropa and Maitripa. From them he received the complete transmission of key tantric teachings, especially Mahāmudrā and the Six Yogas of Naropa, along with their associated meditation practices. Returning to Tibet, he translated these Sanskrit materials into Tibetan and began to transmit them experientially to disciples. This act of translation was therefore both textual and spiritual, ensuring that the Kagyu emphasis on direct, experiential realization could take root in Tibetan soil.

Within the Kagyu understanding, the very name of the lineage—derived from “ka” (oral instruction) and “gyu” (transmission)—highlights the style of passing on what Marpa received. He transmitted these teachings to his foremost disciple, Milarepa, who in turn transmitted them to Gampopa, thereby establishing the foundational sequence of lineage holders: Marpa → Milarepa → Gampopa. From Gampopa, the Kagyu tradition later unfolded into multiple sub‑lineages, all of which look back to Marpa as their source. Thus, Marpa is regarded as the root guru for Kagyu practitioners, and his way of uniting rigorous practice with deep devotion to the teacher became a defining hallmark of the entire tradition.