Acknowledgement

At the very outset, I express my respectful gratitude to my supervisor Dr. Sudeshna Bhattacharjya, Professor, Department of Sanskrit, Gauhati University, for her precious assistance and constant guidance. Only for her proper guidance, kind consideration, continuous encouragement and inspiration during these three years of my study, it has been possible for me to complete my work. I express my indebtedness to her.

I express my sincerest gratitude to my dear teachers as well as the RAC members Professor Shrutidhara Chakravarty and Professor Kameshwar Shukla, for their advices and continuous motivation during my research period.

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to my teachers Prof. Hiran Sharma, H.O.D. Department of Sanskrit, Gauhati University, Prof. Rajendranath Sharma, Prof. Nalini Devi Misra, Prof. Mukta Biswas, Prof. Sujata Purakayastha, Prof. Manjula Devi, Dr. Jagadish Sharma, Dr. Upama Barman Deka, Dr. Binima Bujarbaruah and Dr. Rashmi Rekha Goswami of the Department of Sanskrit, Gauhati University for their valuable suggestions. I convey my regards to Dr. Bharati Goswami and Dr. Kalpita Bujarbarua of B. Borooah College for their love and support.

I am grateful to all the officials of K.K. Handiqui Central Library of Gauhati University, Indian Council of Historical Research Library, North-East Regional Centre, Guwahati and also the Seminar Library, Dept. of Sanskrit, Gauhati University for their generosity, kind help and co-operation.

I offer my heartiest gratitude to my dear husband Mr. Rubul Sarma, for encouraging me in every step of my life which gives me an immense motivation and strength to complete my research work. Without his cooperation, I would never have come to this state. I am very much grateful to him. I express my gratefulness to my father Mr. Putul Sarma and my mother Mrs. Anima Devi, for their continuous support and untiring inspiration. Without their encouragement and moral support the present work could not have attained this position. I also want to thank my in-laws Mr. Chandra Kanta Sarma and Mrs. Pushpalata Devi, for their support. I also take the opportunity to offer my thanks to my caring sisters Parishree Sarma, Panchamrita Sarma and Mridusmita Bharadwaj for their love and care. I also want to thank my dearest friends and all the well-wishers, for their encouragement till the final stage of my research work.

Last but not the least I would like to thank Mr. Hemanga Kumar and his staffs, who have taken utmost care in the arrangement of this thesis.

Bhagyashree Sarma