Mammatabhaṭṭa’s Theory of Kāvyadoṣa (Poetic Flaws): A critical study

Abstract

The theory of kāvyadoṣa (poetic flaws) is an essential branch of Sanskrit poetics (Alaṅkāraśāstra). Among the major theorists of poetic blemishes, Mammaṭa Bhaṭṭa holds a central place due to his systematic synthesis of previous traditions in his seminal work Kāvyaprakāśa. By establishing “freedom from defects” (ADOṢA) as a foundational criterion for defining poetry, he provides a comprehensive understanding of both verbal and semantic flaws. This article examines Mammaṭa’s classification of poetic defects, his theoretical foundations, illustrations, and his contribution to the evolution of the doṣa theory in comparison with earlier scholars like Bhāmaha, Daṇḍin, and Ānandavardhana.