The Yelpa Kagyu tradition was established by Yelpa Yeshe Tsek, a disciple of Pakmodrupa. It thus counts as on of the "minor branches" in that it stems from the students of Pakmodrupa rather than Gampopa. Yeshe Tsek established multiple monasteries, chief among them being Shar Yelpuk in 1171, which served as the seat of the tradition. A characteristic of the Yelpa Kagyu is the inclusion of the Gesar of Ling and Huṃkāra traditions.