Marpa was the founder of Kagyudpa tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. Marpa was born in 1012 A.D. in the region of Lobrak Tibet, right above the border of Bhutan. In his childhood he quickly learned reading and writing. Marpa learn Sanskrit from Drogmi Lotsava who was well versed in Path and Fruition doctrine of Sakyapa tradition. Having been frustrated with his inability to learn more teachings from Drogmi he toured India three times via Nepal. Guru Marpa had two Nepali Gurus, Paindapa and Chitherpa from whom he learnt the Cakrasamvara and Catuhpith tantras for three years. These two Nepalese teachers gave Marpa a great deal of dharma instruction and language. Guru Marpa with his great zeal and assiduity learnt the vast range of tantric teachings from Naropa, Maitripa, Kukkuripa and others. He came back to Tibet with these vast resources and taught his disciples extensively. Among his disciples, Tibet’s great yogi Milarepa was the foremost and he had many outstanding disciples of his own through whom Kagyudpa lineage is continued uninterruptedly
till today.

Marpa is said to be a very fat one with hair standing five fingers straight up off his head and with angry looking face. But in some commentaries of Venerable Karma Chagme, he is described as having matted hair and wearing a chuba with big Chinese style sleeves and a large cap.