Maha Shivaratri is celebrated on March Wednesday 2nd 2011. It is mandatory to visit the temple and seek the blessings of Lord Shiva during this day. In many customs they do fast on this day, but in our Madhwa tradition it is a festival and we do not fast. I remember visiting the Shiva Temple at Vijaya College in Bijapur which had 1001 Lingas along with my parents every year.
Attached below are prayers to say for Lord Shiva and seek his blessings.
Vandhe Sambhum Umaapathim Suragurum
Vandhe Jagath Kaaranam
Vandhe Pannaga Bhooshanam Mrigadharam
Vandhe Pasoonaam Pathim
Vandhe Soorya Sasaanga Vahnni Nayanam
Vandhe Mukundha Priyam
Vandhe Baktha Janaasryam Cha
Varadham Vandhe Sivam Sankaram
Meaning:
I bow to Sambu the Lord of Uma and the teacher of the Devas. I bow to the Lord Who is the root cause of the entire world. I bow to the Lord, Who has the serpent as His ornament, Who carries a deer. I bow to the Lord of all beings. I bow to the Lord Who has the Sun, the Moon and the Fire as His three eyes. I bow to Him Who is fond of Mukundha. I bow to Him, Who is the refuge of all devotees and Who grants boons to them. I bow to Siva, the creator of all auspicious things.
This blog also has the lyrics for Lingashtakam or Shiva Stuti as it is called.
1. lingashtakam-shiva-stuthi
Kalpavriksha Kamadhenu 
Posted by samaya on March 4, 2011 at 12:00 pm
Hi,
I am very interested in learning the art of performing Lakshmi puja on Fridays and Varmahalakshmi puja. I know the puja vidhi varies a bit from region to region and family to family, but a simple step by step instruction in English will be very helpful. I am in US and comes from a total cocktail family. A mix of Punju, Bengali, marathi, kanada has confused me a lot. I do respect all castes and believe in all God. Just need a little guideline, so that my Son doesn;t turns out another hopelessly confused desi in USA…:)
Thank you
Posted by meeraghu on March 4, 2011 at 7:02 pm
I have uploaded the procedure, however it is not in English, but in Kannada.
Posted by Mahendran.R on March 2, 2011 at 8:34 pm
This Programe Very Great In Indues .
Thank You
Mahendran.R
Posted by vallivasanth on February 27, 2011 at 10:44 am
http://rayaru.sriraghavendramutt.org/node/40/
Sri Raghavendra Ashtaka : By Sri Suvidyendra Teertharu
pl go thr this…
Posted by vasantharao d on February 27, 2011 at 9:39 am
sri
repeating earlier posting,[missed some how, ignore it if appears]
thank you
for taking us to, rather receiving us, at saaroopyam, saameepyam,saalokyam,saayujyam on mahasivarathri.
upavaasa is symbolic for outwardly tendencies to turn within, –jagarana for going beyond to the 4th state from the sleeplike existence in 3 states
the sthothra and panchakshari are expressions, ‘live’ ,links, pass words leading to shiva kshethra ,kylaash, in the cosmic web.
vande for the great bhaaratheeya traditions,deeply explored and experienced, guiding life for ever, with festivals to remind us to update our lives from time to time in line with ever updating cosmic power.
Posted by dvr on February 27, 2011 at 2:51 am
sri
fasting is also a symbolic withdrawal of outward tendencies and to turn within
jagaran also a symbolic to go beyond to the 4th ,from the sleep-like-existence in 3 states
each expression in the sthothra is ‘live’ like an expression with underline, a link, in internet, suggestive and a lead to relevant site/loka in the innernet
panchakshari a password to siva website, the sivaloka
thanking you for taking us to the saroopyam,saameepyam,saalokyam,saayujyam on the occasion of mahasivarathri