The $main variable is set in various places depending on which file/page is being called. $main is aptly named because it determines what content is displayed in the main content area.
In it's basic form, a php file assigns a $main variable to smarty in the form:
Code:
$smarty->assign("main","something");
This main variable is then read in skin1/customer/home_main.tpl in the form:
Code:
{elseif $main eq "something"}
{include file="somefolder/something.tpl"}
somefolder/something.tpl is then a file that displays the content in the main area.
You can use the $main variable in your skin1/customer/home.tpl (or elsewhere) to use distinguishing headers in the form:
Code:
{if $main eq "something"}
Show This
{else}
No Show This
{/if}
Hope this helps.