Murasu

{{Short description|Unpitched percussion instrument}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}} {{Infobox instrument | name = Murasu | image = Nagara murasu.jpg | image_capt = Nagara murasu | background = percussion | classification = Percussion | developed = Tamil Nadu, India }}

The '''murasu''' (Tamil: முரசு) is a type of drum that originated in Tamil Nadu, India several centuries ago.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://siragu.com/?p=8036|title=மனித நோய் தீர்க்கும், மயக்கும் ராகங்கள் (கட்டுரை)}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/music/secular-and-sacred/article4268995.ece|title=Secular and sacred|publisher=The Hindu|date=January 3, 2013|accessdate=September 10, 2016}}</ref>

Three types of Murasu are known.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Drums of India through the Ages|journal=The Journal of the Music Academy, Madras |last1=Krishnaswami |first1=S. |url=https://issuu.com/themusicacademy/docs/1967 |accessdate=30 September 2019 |date=1967 |volume=38 |page=73}}</ref> * ''Veera Murasu'' (martial drum), a kettle drum used for military purposes. It may be mounted on a tall platform called a ''Murasu Kattil''.

* ''Thyaga Murasu'' (charity drum), a drum used when giving gifts, also used to invite poor people to receive goods.

* ''Nyāya Murasu'' (judgement drum), a drum used to call people to judicial proceedings or to submit their grievances requiring judgement. The murasu was used for disseminating information during the ancient period, as mentioned in the Sangam Literature. It must have been used to inform people about natural disasters too.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lakshmi |first=K. |date=2020-04-28 |title=Tropical cyclone gets Tamil name |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/tropical-cyclone-gets-tamil-name/article31458012.ece |access-date=2026-02-14 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

== See also == * Ancient Tamil music ==References== {{reflist}}

Category:Musical instruments played with drum sticks Category:Culture of Tamil Nadu Category:Tamil culture Category:Tamil music