Prayer -Lingashtakam - Hymn in Praise of Sri Shiva

Hindus (Shaivites or Shaivaas), who belong to the sect Shaivism are popularly known as the Smartaas and they worship upon Shiva. Maha Shivaratri is a major annual festival celebrated by the followers of Shiva.  Bilva Patra, sacred leaf is offered to Shiva.

Lord Shiva (शिव), also known as Rudra, Pasupati, Maheswara (Maha Eashwara) is a major Hindu deity and is said to be the Creator, Preserver, destroyer, concealer and Revealer of the whole Universe.
  

Even though most people consider Shiva as the destroyer or Transformer among the Trimurti (Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva), Shiva means “the auspicious one”. He is said to be living a life of a sage with his consort Parvati Devi, at Mount Kailash in the Himalayas in India. His weapon is the Trishul (trident) and his vahana (mount) is the Nandi (Bull). Lord Ganesh, Kartikeya (skanda) and Ayyappan are said to be his children.

Worship of Shiva is done in any of the following forms: a Lingam (pillar of light) is the main shiva symbol like Shaligram for Vishnu, in the human form as a Murti,  the river Ganges, his place of abode the Mount Kailash or as the formless one.  There are 12 Jyotirlingam (Shiva in the form of light) temples in India.

There are many ways of offering prayers like the Shiva Sahasranama, Shiva Astothram, Rudram, Chamakam and various hymns. The Panchakshara beeja mantra is, “OM NAMAHA SHIVAAYA” Initiated through a proper Guru and chanted with a clean body and mind will bring prosperity and well being to the devotees.

 

 Brahma Muraari Surarchita Lingam
Nirmala Bhaashita Sobhitha Lingam
Janmaja Dhukha Vinaashaka Lingam
Tatpranamaami Sadaashiva Lingam

Devamuni Pravaraarchita Lingam
Kaama Dahana Karunaakara Lingam
Ravana Darpa Vinaashana Lingam
Tatpranamaami Sadaashiva Lingam

 Sarva Sugandha Sulepitha Lingam
Buddhi Vivaardhana Kaarana Lingam
Siddha Suraasura Vandhitha Lingam
Tatpranamaami Sadaashiva Lingam

 Kanaka Mahaamani Bhooshitha Lingam
Panipati Veshthitha Sobitha Lingam
Daksha Suyajna Vinaashana Lingam
Tatpranamaami Sadaashiva Lingam

 Kunkuma Chandhana Lehpitha Lingam
Pankaja Haara Susobhitha Lingam
Sanchitha Paapa Vinaashana Lingam
Tatpranamaami Sadaashiva Lingam

Deva Ganaarchita Sevitha Lingam
Bhavair Bhakhi Bhirevacha Lingam
Dinakara Koti Prabhaakara Lingam
Tatpranamaami Sadaashiva Lingam

 Ashta Dalopari Veshthitha Lingam
Sarva Samudbhava Kaarana Lingam
Ashta Daridra Vinaashana Lingam
Tatpranamaami Sadaashiva Lingam

Suraguru Suravara Poojitha Lingam
Suravana Pushpa Sadarchitha Lingam
Paraath Param Paramatmaka Lingam
Tatpranamaami Sadaashiva Lingam

Lingashtaka Midam Punyam
Yah Pathet Sivasannidhau
Sivaloka Mahaapnoti
Sivehna Saha Modatheh

Mahamrityunjaya Mantra
Trymbakam Yajamahe Sugandhim Pusti-vardhanam
Urvaruka miva bandhanan mrtyor mukshiya mamrutat

(In the translation of Arthur Berriedale Keith, 1914):
"OM. We worship and adore you, O three-eyed one, O Shiva. You are sweet gladness, the fragrance of life, who nourishes us, restores our health, and causes us to thrive. As, in due time, the stem of the cucumber weakens, and the gourd is freed from the vine, so free us from attachment and death, and do not withhold immortality."

References:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shiva_Puja

http://www.shaivam.org/sanskrit/sslingashh.pdf

http://meerasubbarao.wordpress.com/2007/11/12/lingashtakam-shiva-stuthi/