In South Indian Carnatic music theory, the term gati translates literally to speed and refers to the subdivision of a single beat or rhythmic unit known as a matra. It dictates how many smaller pulses or subdivisions fit within each primary beat. There are five principal gatis—tisra, chatusra, khanda, misra, and sankirna—which create intricate rhythmic textures, complex time structures, and dynamic tempo variations essential for vocalists and percussionists during performances and improvisations.