Lord Shiva can be easily impressed. Once impressed, Lord Shiva eradicates all the problems and frees his devotees from all kind of sorrows. A person benefits from his blessings and is able to understand his own existence. The magnificence of Lord Shiva has been mentioned in the Puranas, Vedas and Shastras. He is the supreme power who is worshipped by everyone in the form of Trayambakam Shiva, Nirakar, Onkar, Lingkar etc.
Lord Shiva blesses his devotees and frees them from all kinds of problems. Lord Shiva has been said to be forgiving, generous and compassionate in the ancient scriptures. Lord Shiva protected the Earth by decreasing the flow of Ganga river with his hair. He also protected the Earth by drinking poison during the battle between Devas and Demons.
A devotee should take a bath and wear clean white clothes. He should worship Lord Shiva in a temple, with a pure heart. Sandalwood, clothes, rice, Bel leaves, flowers, fruits etc. should be dedicated to Lord Shiva. Ashtak have been written for the worship of Lord Shiva. Shivashtak, Lingashtak and Rudrashtak are the famous ones.
Thasmai nama parama karana karanaya,
Deepthojjwalitha pingala lochanaya,
Nagendra hara krutha kundala bhooshanaya,
Brahmendra Vishnu varadaya Nama Shivaya.
Srimath prasanna sasi pannaga bhooshanaya,
Shailendraja vadana chumbitha lochanaya,
Kailasa mandara mahendra nikethanaya,
Loka trayarthi haranaya nama shivaya.
Padmavadatha mani kundala govrushaya,
Krishnagaru prachura chandana charchithaya,
Basamanushaktha vikachothpala mallikaya,
Neelabhja kanda sadrusaya namashivaya.
Lambathsa pingala jata makutothkataya,
Damshtra karala vikatothkata bhairavaya,
Vyagara jinambaradharaya manoharaya,
Trilokya natha namithaya namashivaya.
Daksha prajapathi maha makha nasanaya,
Kshipram maha Tripura dhanava gathanaya,
Brahmorjithordhwaga karoti nikrunthanaya,
Yogaya, yoganamithaya namashivaya.
Samsara srushti ghatana parivarthanaya,
Raksha pisacha gana sidha samakulaya,
Sidhoragagraha ganendra nishevithaya,
Sardhoola charma vasanaya Nama Shivaya.
Basmanga raga krutha roopa manoharaya,
Soumyaavadatha vanamasrithamasrithaya,
Gowri kataksha nayanardha nireekshnaya,
Go ksheera dhara davalaya nama shivaya.
Adithya Soma Varuna anila sevithaya,
Yagnagni hothra vara dhooma nikethanaya,
Rik sama veda munibhi sthuthi samyuthaya,
Gopaya gopa namithaa nama shivaya.
These phrases explain the magnificence of Lord Shiva. According to Shivashtak, Lord Shiva is the supreme power and the reason for everything. He has eyes which are similar to fire and wears a snake around his neck. Lord Shiva blesses even Lord Vishnu, Lord Brahma and Lord Indra.
It further explains that Lord Shiva wears the clear moon and the snake as ornaments. His eyes are kissed by the daughter of the mountain and he lives in the Kailasa peak and Mahendra mountain. Lord Shiva is the one who eradicates the sorrow of the people of three worlds. Lord Shiva was the one who destroyed Daksha Prajapati’s yagya and Tripurasur.
Lord Shiva is the one who can change the course of anything. He controls everything and resides in everything. Lord Shiva is as pure as the white color. He resides in the Sun, Moon, air, yagyas etc. All the Vedas and saints worship him.
This way, a person should read Ashtaks written to worship Lord Shiva. Reading them eradicates all problems and a person is able to live prosperous life.