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While the study continues, a composite type of methodology is tried to be used with the intent of fulfilling the objectives of the study. The title of the study itself demands such a methodology that combines descriptive and analytical nature. In fact, folklore is a field oriented discipline which is obliged to apply participation, observation, questionnaire and interview. As the study is about the Billeswar Devalaya鈥攁 religious site鈥攚hose stature continues from the ancient to modern times; it obviously requires an anthropological approach also. But the principal methodologies applied here are the folkloristic and sociological approaches for reaching at the goals of the study. Study is based on primary sources and secondary bibliographic sources which are to be supported by the field study and data collected through unstructured personal interviews, empirical study as well as case studies. In the unstructured interview, there are no specifications in the wording of the questions or the order of the questions. (Ahuja: 2014: 223) Almost all affairs of the Devalaya are being depicted through its activities which are folkloristic in nature. Its folkloristic aspects are tangibly and intangibly carried by its folk narratives which are not in systematic manner. For its appropriate appraisal and evaluation-analytical method is undertaken. In social science research, the most essential method is observation which contains five devices. They are: diary, notebook, schedule, photograph and map. All these are used to a certain extent as the thesis demands. (Rathor:2005:92)

The study of folklore research entails, at least, two distinct methodological steps: collection of the data and its interpretation. The first step was to identify and collect possible folkloristic element or form from either oral or written source and then to interpret it with a critical observation. While data collection is purely objective, the interpretation is fully subjective and is not necessarily empirically demonstrable. The interpretation is carried out with looking in to the text. (Dundes: 1980: 211)

Despite its antiquity and geographical accessibility, the Devalaya is almost abandoned to the scholarly works. So the secondary bibliographical sources created by the local people are found to be feeble which are not adequately instrumental in extracting the appropriate data. Therefore, very intensive interaction and interview are considered to be the most essential tools in collecting the data. Archaeological map of undivided Kamrup district prior to 1985 locates the site of Billeswar Devalaya signifying its existence and importance. But it is not covered by intensive scholarly works and erudite discussions. Hence the literatures found about the Devalaya are to undergo a serious serunity and a comparative examination with the primary sources.

The oral narratives are of immense value available in the contextualized forms with episodic manner. As a matter of fact, 鈥極ral Tradition鈥� may be regarded as a valid material for historical research. Traditional history is the ultimate sources for justifying the actual stature of the temples i.e. Billeswar Devalaya. R. M. Dorson says-鈥楬istory as written by historians usually has little relation to the historical traditions orally preserved by a people. Such traditions have a value for revealing what episodes of the past endure and what forms they take in popular memory unaided by the crutch of print and the catechism of the school master. They may also fill in the gaps in the historical records although of course historical facts need to be shifted from folklore tradition. This statement is more relevant in case of Billeswar Devalaya as it lacks the affection of the historian. Hence, the collection of data has been done intensively from the common people through the interviews which are totally unstructured. The majority of target people for the interviews are chosen from the proletariat class as they are free from the intricacy of intellect. But their sayings and comments are verified and compared with the views of the intellectually developed class of the people who are interviewed and the written literature available. Though we cannot ignore the comments of the proletariat people; however, these may not help to arrive at the proper findings. Factually their comments are superficial and based on virtual reality. To make entry into the core of the reality, diagnostic approach has also been undertaken. The tangible things are limited but its intangibility goes beyond the limit. Therefore, the entire study essentially needs to be qualitative as well as quantitative.

Fieldwork is the part and parcel of any folkloristic study. Folklore study integrally entails fieldworks. Folklore materials exist in the society being scattered in various forms, laying in every corner of a territory and struggling to come into light. It is quite impossible to study and collect all the materials of folklore of various genres without extensive and methodical fieldworks. Folklore is nearest to people. It studies not only the literature of the society, but studies the fields of human culture also. So folklore is related to oral literature, material culture, social folk customs and performing art.

Methodologies followed in undertaking the study are:

a) Data collection
i) Classification and Analysis of Data
ii) Observation
iii) Formulation of general ideas on the basis of the study
iv) Highlighting future directions.

Choice of data collection is connected with concrete sub-topics and research questions. Materials are collected from publications, popular media, Internet and from the folk people of the adjoining villages. The collected data have been sorted out, classified into different categories, analyzed systematically, formed certain general observations and finally incorporated in different chapters. The research is based on the ideas of textual ethnography, and applies the principles of textual, discourse and genre analysis, intertextual and the classical descriptive method, supplemented by research on the social dimension of folklore narration.

To acquire knowledge of different material and tradition of particular folk society, consistent fieldworks are necessary for collecting the raw data which are considered to be primary data as per as the research methodology. Folklore is a social science whose data cannot be tested in laboratory like the physical science experiment. But its facts can be tested through comparative study with other identical study and proper investigation.

Secondary data are collected from published sources such as books, pamphlets, magazines, newspapers, videos updated in YouTube, videoed interviews, internet sources, photographs, doctoral thesis etc. All the above stated materials are found to be ultimate sources during the pursuance of the study.

Libraries used for the study are: KK Handique Library, Gauhati University; Departmental Library, Dept. of Folklore Research, Gauhati University; Library ABILAC; District Library, Guwahati; District Library, Nalbari, Library of Rajiv Gandhi University, Rono Hills, Arunachal Pradesh; Library of Bodoland University, Kokrajhar; Prerona Puthibaharal, Bihampur, Nalbari.