Guru Atisha is popularly known as Acarya Dipamkarasrijnana. Guru Atisha lived some 1,000 years ago (982–1054 A.D.). Guru Atisha was born in a royal family of Bengal. From a very young age he studied and mastered many scriptural texts on various subjects. Guru Atisha went to Sumatra, an arduous journey lasting for 13 months, to meet the illustrious master of Bodhisattva tradition honoured and respected as Guru Suvarnadvipa. He received teachings on Mind Training in completeness.

Guru Atisha was invited to Tibet to eliminate all the mistakes and misunderstanding concerning the teachings of Hinayana, Mahayana and Tantrayana. He established Kadampa sect in Tibet through his Tibetan disciple Drontonpa.Guru Atisha is generally seen seated in Vajra posture with dhannacakra mudra. A Kadam style stupa is usually seen on his right side symbolizing awakened mind and the stages of path to Enlightenment.