Shiva- The first yogi.
Shiva is the “destroyer of evil and the transformer” within the Trimurti, the Hindu trinity that includes Brahma and Vishnu. In Shaivism tradition, Shiva is the Supreme being who creates, protects and transforms the universe. In the goddess tradition of Hinduism called Shaktism, the goddess is described as supreme, yet Shiva is revered along with Vishnu and Brahma. A goddess is stated to be the energy and creative power (Shakti) of each, with Parvati the equal complementary partner of Shiva.
Maha Shivaratri is a Hindu festival celebrated annually in honour of the god Shiva. Before the arrival of Summer, marks Maha Shivaratri which means “the Great Night of Shiva“.
This festival is solemn and marks a remembrance of “overcoming darkness and ignorance” in life and the world. It is observed by remembering Shiva and chanting prayers, fasting, doing Yoga, and meditating on ethics and virtues such as self-restraint, honesty, non-injury to others, forgiveness, and the discovery of Shiva.
With his neck, consecrated by the flow of water flowing from the thick forest-like locks of hair, and on the neck, where the lofty snake is hanging like a garland,
who has the moon as his head-jewel,
who is the sportive companion of Parvati (daughter of the mountain king), who controls invincible hardships with the flow of his compassionate look, who is all-pervasive,
who has three eyes, who has offered the powerful God of Love into the fire,
whose head is glorified by the rows of moving waves of the celestial river Ganga, agitating in the deep well of his hair-locks, and who has the brilliant fire flaming on the surface of his forehead.
God, with equal vision towards the people and an emperor, and a blade of grass and lotus-like eye, towards both friends and enemies, towards the valuable gem and some lump of dirt, towards a snake and a garland and towards varied ways of the world
May Lord Shiva give us prosperity, who bears the burden of this Universe
And The Shakti (energy) which is capable of burning all the sins and spreading welfare of all and the pleasant sound produced by angels during enchanting the pious Shiv mantra at the time of Shiv-Parvati Vivah (wedding) may win over & destroy all the sufferings of the world.
Praises of Lord Shiva sung by King Raavana, King of Lanka (now Sri Lanka), who was an ardent Shiva devotee. He got tired of rampaging across the earth so he returned to Lord Shiva to request moksha (salvation), or release from the bondage of endless rebirth.
Har Har Mahadev
{Har” is a Sanskrit word “Hara” (हर् – हरति), which means to take away. This is to denote an embodiment of captivation (चित्त हरना), consolidation (संघन्नम्) and destruction (विनाश करना).
Lord Shiva is also associated with the term “The Destroyer”. Thus, this chant implies that “O Great Lord, liberate us from this vicious cycle of births and deaths (or attain Moksha)
‘Hara’ here implies taking away our sorrows, grief, lust, ignorance and all worldly attachments and liberate our soul.}
Source:
https://goo.gl/images/7MN8Fc
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shiva_Tandava_Stotram?wprov=sfla1