Acknowledgement

I express deep sense of gratitude to my supervisor Dr. Indra Narain Singh for his guidance and cooperation all through the work.

I would like to thank Prof. K.T.S. Sarao, Head, Department of Buddhist Studies and Prof. B. Satyapala for their valuable support.

Dr. Abhay Prasad Singh and Mr. Sanjay Kumar have rendered valuable assistance to me in completing this work. I owe my deep gratitude to them. I express my thanks to Mr. Aditya Narain Misra, Dr. Rajesh, Dr. Arun Bhardwaj, Dr. V. K. Dixit and Mr. Narottam Vineet who in their own ways have helped me in completing the work.

I am thankful to the library staff of ICHR, ASI, Indian Institute for Buddhist and Tibetan Studies (Sarnath), Nalanda Nav Mahavihar (Nalanda), Jayaswal Research Institute, (Patna), Central Reference Library, (Delhi University), and P.G.D.A.V. College for their cooperation. I also express my thanks to Mr. Deepak Jha for typing this manuscript.

And lastly, words fail to adequately express my thanks to my wife Punam whose constant proddings and silent support made me complete this work and to Aastha and Somesh whose affection has been a driving force in fruition of this work. I am grateful to my mother, who has been a ceaseless source of emotional support in pursuit of this work.

I dedicate this work to the departed soul of my father whose love has always been a revitalizing force for me.