The reference rate: material stated so its units align one-to-one with the matra, also called thah or ekgun. Every speed ratio is named from here — dugun doubles it, aad phrases three units across two matras, and so on.
Stating material at base rate first is standard method: it fixes the phrase in the ear and proves the count before compression. In layakari exercises the return to it matters as much as the departure — the base layer is where the listener re-verifies the tala.