They followed a unique Hebrew-Syriac Christian tradition which included several Jewish elements and Indian customs.

Mar Thoma II died suddenly on 14 April 1686, and he was buried inside Niranam church.

The leaders of the Malankara Church selected Mar Thoma III as his successor.

At that time Mar Ivanios Hidayuttulla who arrived in Kerala in 1685 was the only bishop in Malankara.

But majority of them supported Mar Thoma III and rejected the authority of Roman bishop Joseph Sebastani.