The Mahasiddha Tilopa is said to have lived between 988-1069 B.C. In the documents compiled by his followers, reference has been made to Bengal as his birthplace.

Tilopa has been particularly credited for conceptualising the Mahamudra. It is a meditational method, which involves a set of spiritual practices that expedite the process of attaining bodhi or enlightenment.

Tilopa is devotionally looked upon as the first human founder of the Kagyu Lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. Just like Buddha Sakyamuni, the first Buddha, T ilopa also achieved the state of complete realisation without the intervention or guidance of a human master. It is said that Lord Buddha himself directly transferred Tilopa to the state of complete consciousness.