Pagmodrupa Dorje Gyalpo (1110-1170): one of the three principal students of Gampopa, the founder of the Pagdru Kagyu School. Eight of his students went on to found the Drigung, Taglung, Drugpa, Yamzang, Tropu, Martsang, Yelpa and Shugseb schools of Kagyu. These are known as the Eight Smaller Schools.

At the top center is the primordial buddha of the Vajrayana system, Vajradhara. Alternating from left to right are Tilopa, Naropa, Marpa, Milarepa, Gampopa and Drigungpa. The lineage lamas continue descending at the right and left sides.

At the upper left of the central figure is Padmasambhava wearing a yellow lotus hat. At the right side is a Nyingma terton 'treasure revealer' also wearing a lotus hat.

At the bottom left corner is a donor figure followed by Yellow Jambhala, Black Jambhala, Red Hayagriva, Chaturbhuja Mahakala and Shri Devi Dorje Rabtenma.

(All of the figures, except for the deities at the bottom, have small name inscriptions beneath each. Based on the names in the lineage the painting can be tentatively dated to the 15th century).

Jeff Watt 8-2003