The Thakuri Revival Nepal's Lost Dynasty Between the Licchavi and Malla Kingdoms

Between the fall of the Licchavi dynasty and the rise of the Malla kingdoms, the Kathmandu Valley entered a shadowy period often called the 'Dark Age.' But recent scholarship is beginning to fill in the gaps. This episode explores the Thakuri dynasty — a little-known line of rulers who claimed descent from the Licchavis and held power in the valley from the 9th to the 12th centuries. We examine the fragmentary evidence: inscriptions from Pashupatinath, Tibetan chronicles that mention Nepalese kings, and the curious figure of Gunakamadeva, said to have founded the city of Kantipur (modern Kathmandu). We discuss the political fragmentation that followed the Licchavi collapse, the pressure from Tibetan and Indian empires, and how the Thakuri period set the stage for the Malla golden age. The episode also touches on the role of the Vajracharya priestly class and the development of Newar Buddhism during this transitional era.

#ThakuriDynasty #NepalHistory #Licchavi #Malla #Gunakamadeva #Kantipur #KathmanduValley #NewarBuddhism #Vajracharya #Pashupatinath #TibetanChronicles #DarkAge #MedievalNepal #HimalayanHistory #SouthAsia #History #FexingoHistory #LostDynasty

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