Mar Thomas Elavanal was born on 28th march 1950 at Mutholy near Pala. In 1955 the family migrated to Chathenkottunada near Kuttiady in Calicut district which comes under the Diocese of Thamarassery.
  He joined the MCBS Minor Seminary in June 1966. He was ordained Bishop on 8th February 1997, by His Grace ArchBishop Mar Varkey Vithayathil, the Apostolic Administrator of the Syro-Malabar Church and took charge of the Diocese of Kalyan on the same day.