The Foundations 

Malpan Thomas Porukara had the original inspiration for the starting of a religious community. He shared his thoughts, aspirations and dreams with his friend Yakob(Jacob) Kanianthara. In their spiritual discourses Malpan Thomas Porukara clearly said: "If we live in this world, it is hard to save the soul, so let us go to the forest for a hermit's life." This great aspiration of his, Porukara shared with Malpan Thomas Palackal, who was the Malpan (director) of the Malpanate (seminary) at Pallippuram. Both together approached the Bishop to request for his blessing and permission. The Bishop replied: "If you who are among the few learned, go for hermitage who will be there for teaching the people." This has given a turn in their thinking and they planned to give shape to a religious congregation, according to the directives of the Bishop, with pastoral apostolate as the basic orientation.

Blessed Chavara, the then disciple of Malpan Thomas Palackal also joined them in starting a religious congregation. After almost two years of search for a fitting place, they found the hillock of Mannanam, where Malpan Porukara laid the foundation stone for the first religious house on 11th May, 1831 in the presence of the Bishop Msgr.Maurelius Stabilini, Malpan Palackal, Blessed Chavara, over fifty priests and hundreds of lay people. The community life was started at Mannanam on 18th June, 1840 under the leadership of Malpan Thomas Porukara, Fr. Geevarghese Thoppil and Blessed Chavara.

Unfortunately, the two Malpans, Thomas Porukara and Thomas Palackal did not live long. Malpan Palackal died on 16th January, 1841 and Malpan Porukara on 8th January, 1846 and Blessed Chavara took up the leadership and led the community. 

 On 8th December, 1855, under the leadership of Blessed Chavara eleven fathers made their first vows and thus the congregation was canonically founded. They called themselves Servants of Mary Immaculate of Mount Carmel. In 1861 the new congregation was made third Order of the Dicalced Carmelites by the Bishop of Verapoly. Then the congregation was known as Third Order of the Carmelites Discalced (T.O.C.D. or Ka.Ni.Mu.Sa.). In 1959, when the new constitution was approved, the name of the congregation was changed into Carmelites of Mary Immaculate (C.M.I.).