This shrine would have been used to contain an image of a Jina or Jain saviour. The twenty-four Jinas venerated by the Jains are also known as Tirthankaras or ford-makers. The figures on the pillars carrying fly-whisks reflect the intended presence of the image of a sacred being. The shrine would probably have been made for a caumukha or four-faced Jina, composed of four Jinas placed back-to-back, each one facing outward towards an open archway. Such images were used in full-size Jain temples in the four-doored, caturmukha plan with the Jinas facing in the cardinal directions. This small shrine would have been used either for a domestic altar in a wealthy home, or perhaps more likely, in a Jain temple. This shape is recommended for use in domestic shrines by a Jain text, and it is also seen in portable shrines, although wood is the preferred material for these.
The celestial dancers, flywhisk bearers, elephants and cusped arches springing from the mouths of monsters are all common features of Jain temples and shrines. The flywhisk bearers indicate the intended presence of the image of a sacred being and the use of silver inlay reflects the care lavished on the ornamental detail of this example. The detachable roof section, however, is much plainer in style. It fits perfectly into the space in the main shrine, though, so it was clearly made for this shrine, although it is not known whether it may have been a replacement for an earlier roof.