Acknowledgement

I shall fail in my duty if I do not record my sincerest gratitude to my supervisor Dr. Hiran Sarmah, M.A, Ph.D, Associate Professor, department of Sanskrit, Gauhati University, Guwahati without whose scholarly guidance and meticulous supervision this thesis would not have reached its printable form.

I cannot help being grateful to all my revered teachers at the department of Sanskrit, Gauhati University, whose words of encouragement have always boosted my morale in every stage of this arduous task of research. This space of the Acknowledgement Column would be incomplete without an honourable mention of Dr. Mukta Biswas, M.A., M. Phil., Ph. D., Professor, dept. of Sanskrit, G.U., Dr. Rajendra Nath Sarma, M.A. Ph.D., D.Lit, Mīmāṃsā-Vyākaraṇa Śāstrī, Professor, dept. of Sanskrit, G.U., and Dr. Sujata Purakayastha, M.A., Ph. D., Professor, dept. of Sanskrit, G.U., who have contributed in a large measure towards consolidation of my research materials. I am obliged to express my deep sense of indebtedness to Dr. Mukta Biswas and Dr. Rajendra Nath Sarma whose scholarly works on the subject have considerably shaped my thoughts during the preparation of this research work.

I am also thankful to the officials of the Kārikā. Kārikā. Handiqui Library, Gauhati University for their kind help and co-operation.

Last but not the least, I am particularly thankful to my husband, Mr. Utpal Dev Sarma, Asst. Professor at the department of English, Eastern Karbi Anglong College, Sarihajan, whose fervent encouragement and incessant moral support have been indispensable all through this diligent and unremitting pursuit. I have also valued the unstinting support and cooperation received from the members of my family.