Cyclone Murasu is approaching the Andhra Pradesh coast, named after a traditional Tamil percussion instrument. India proposed this name to the World Meteorological Organisation for cyclones in the North Indian Ocean. Historically, the drum served to alert villages about danger, making it a fitting name for a weather warning system.

The name appears on the list of names approved for cyclones forming over the North Indian Ocean, which includes the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea.

The name of Cyclone Murasu, which is approaching the Andhra Pradesh coast, has a historical connection with the way communities were alerted to danger. Murasu is a traditional Tamil percussion instrument that was once used to communicate important messages across villages and kingdoms, including warnings about natural disasters.

The name was proposed by India as part of the regional cyclone-naming system. It appears on the list of names approved for cyclones forming over the North Indian Ocean, which includes the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea. The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) lists Murasu among India’s contributions to the naming list.

A Drum That Warned Of Danger

The name has a deeper historical significance than its association with music. The drum served as an important means of communication in ancient Tamil society. A 2023 research paper, The Rhythm of Rituals of Tamil Nadu – A Descriptive Study, published in the ShodhKosh: Journal of Visual and Performing Arts, notes that Murasu, also referred to as Berigai, was used for public announcements during royal gatherings.

These included announcements about taxes, processions and other occasions. The instrument was also used to summon soldiers for war and alert people when a battle was about to begin.

Another study, published in the Shanlax International Journal of Tamil Research, documents the use of Murasu and other traditional Tamil instruments on ancient battlefields. It also notes that musical instruments were used to communicate royal orders to the public.

How Did Murasu Become A Cyclone’s Name?

Murasu was among the names India submitted to the WMO/ESCAP Panel on Tropical Cyclones as part of the revised list adopted in April 2020. The list contains 169 names contributed by 13 member countries, with each country submitting 13 names.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD), through its Regional Specialised Meteorological Centre in New Delhi, is responsible for naming cyclones forming over the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea. Names are assigned in a predetermined sequence from the approved regional list.

The name Murasu, therefore, is not a reference to the cyclone’s intensity or its expected impact. However, its historical association with communicating warnings and alerting people to danger gives it a striking connection with the weather system.