The Cincinnati Art Museum's Jain shrine is an elaborate structure that allows Jains to contemplate a life of peace, discipline, and freedom from earthly desires. This shrine, an elaborately carved canopy (typically used by royalty) with two freestanding support pillars, was made during an important growth period that saw the building of numerous temples. This shrine features symmetry and repetition as major design elements. The central niche originally held an image of one of the sacred Tirthankaras. The most important gods are situated closest to the vertical axis of the shrine and they are larger. Students should consider that symmetry is very important in the design of this Jain shrine. Teachers can initiate a discussion with students how symmetry might relate to the principles of Jainism. In a similar manner, the class can talk about the ways that the design of buildings such as schools or shopping malls reflect a particular philosophy that is not simply about practical use. Students should be invited to research images of shrines or altars from other religions and compare and contrast them with this Jain shrine.