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.{{cite web|url=http://siragu.com/?p=8036|title=மனித நோய் தீர்க்கும், மயக்கும் ராகங்கள் (கட்டுரை)}}{{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}}

Three types of Murasu are known.{{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}}

• 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.