Acknowledgement

At the completion of a project of long duration there is a diastolic ease which is the right time for thanks giving. It has its customary feature of an academy culture, at the same time it is bound to weigh in worth beyond bare formalities.

My quest took shape due to the boundless motivation and zeal of my respected supervisor Prof. Dr. Snigdha Das Roy, who reposed her trust and confidence in my enterprise, constantly inspired and guided me in preparation of this work. So, my sincere gratitude goes for her.

I acknowledge my gratefulness to my respected teachers Prof. Swapna Devi, Prof. Bhagirati Biswas, Dr. Shanti Pokrel and Mr. Govind Sharma of the Department of Sanskrit, Assam University Silchar, for their guidance at every step for successful completion of this work.

I pay homage to late prof. Haripada Chakraborty, Department of Sanskrit, Assam University Silchar, for his valuable suggestions and motivations which I had received from him. He was so kind in helping me when I had approached to him.

I owe my sincere thanks to Dr. Sankar Bhattacarjee, Principal, Womens College, Silchar and Dr. Ananda Mohan Mohanta, Department of Sanskrit, G.C. College, Silchar for their inspiration and encouragement.

I express my thanks and gratitude to my parents and family members for their inspiration, help and blessings, without which I could not have been able to complete this dissertation.

I do convey my thanks to Mr. Dipan kumar Acharjee, Non-teaching staff, Department of Sanskrit, Assam University, Silchar, for the help rendered by him during my research period.

I owe my thanks to the officers and staff members in charge of the libraries of Asiatic Society, Kolkata, National Library, Kolkata and Central Library of Assam University Silchar, for their active help.

Last but not the least, I express my thanks to Sri Purnapriya Choudhury, Sungraphics, Silchar for printing and binding the thesis in time.

(Aparna Dhar)