As opposed to the Advaita philosophy, the Dvaita school of Vedanta believes that God and the individual souls (Jeevottama) exist as independent and distinct realities. Dvaita followers started 24 monasteries, and the Gokarna Matha or Gokarna Monastery is one of them. If you have been to Margao's Moti Dongor area, you would remember a similar monastery called Mantralaya Shri Raghavendra Swamy Matha. Gokarna Matha though is bigger, grander.

Established by the Gowd Saraswat Brahmin community in the 15th century, Gokarna Matha is located in Partagali village on the banks of river Kushavati. The monastery's symbol is a vatavriksha or banyan tree, the tree of knowledge or wisdom. When you visit this place, you would notice a huge tree that is regarded as the Tapasya Kshetra. It is believed that the presence of this supposedly sacred tree might have influenced monastery's founders to choose this particular site. Located on the Margao-Karwar highway, this monastery has followers in Goa and Karnataka. Just as you turn into its main entrance, you would notice that the roads leading in and out are carved out of a mountain and flanked by high rocky walls.

Tip:
If you are seeking directions from locals, ask for Partagali Matha.