Call to the Lord Shankara to be present when we chant his glory by reciting sri Rudram

Call to the Lord Shankara to be present when we chant his glory by reciting sri Rudram

आराधितो मनुष्यैस्त्वं सिद्धैः देवासुरादिभिः।
आराधयामि भक्त्या त्वऽनुगृहाण महेश्वर॥
हृत्पद्मकर्णिकामध्यात् उमया सह शङ्कर।
आगच्छ त्वं महादेव सर्वैरावरणैः सह।
आत्वा वहन्तु हरयः सचेतसः श्वेतैरश्वैः सह केतुमद्भिः।
वाताजितैःबलवद्भिः मनोजवैः आयाहि शीघ्रं मम हव्याय शर्वों॥
ārādhito manuṣyaistvaṁ siddhaiḥ devāsurādibhiḥ|
ārādhayāmi bhaktyā tva'nugṛhāṇa maheśvara||
hṛtpadmakarṇikāmadhyāt umayā saha śaṅkara|
āgaccha tvaṁ mahādevā sarvairāvaraṇaiḥ saha|
ātvā vahantu harayaḥ sacetasaḥ śvetairaśvaiḥ saha ketumadbhiḥ|
vātājitaiḥ(raiḥ) balavadbhiḥ manojavaiḥ āyāhi śīghraṁ mama havyāya śarvoṁ||

My Master Lord Maheshvara, you are ever worshipped by humans, siddhas, devas and asuras all with great devotion.
I am worshipping you too with utter devotion.. May your Divine Grace be pleased to bless me..

My Master Shankara, may you be pleased to manifest before us appearing from the pericarp or centre of our hearts, in the company of Mother Uma and also surrounded by your entire retinue..

My Master Shankara May the green horses
who equal or even exceed the wind in their speed
and who are aware of your sweet will,
who are extremely strong
and can assume the speed of the mind itself,
may they, accompanied by white horses which carry flags, carry you here..
Om .. Lord Sharva.. the shankara, may you be pleased to come here in great speed to partake in the offerings of havyam.. cooked grains prepared specially for you..

Invoking all Supreme deities before chanting Sri Rudram.

Invoking all Supreme deities before chanting Sri Rudram.
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The invoking of all supreme divine powers on ourselves and connecting them all to the Most Supreme Paramatma.. bhagavan Rudra.. before engaging in chanting, floral worship, offering abhishekam and pranams to the Lord through Sri Rudram... also called Namakam..
Part of what we call Laghunayam.

अग्निर्मे वाचि श्रितः वाग्घृदये हृदयं मयि अहं अमृते अमृतं ब्रह्मणि।
agnirme vāci śritaḥ vāgghṛdaye hṛdayaṁ mayi ahaṁ amṛte amṛtaṁ brahmaṇi|
Agni, the fire, and the deity of fire is present in the words I utter, or my capacity to utter words.. That capacity is connected to my heart.. The heart is within me.. I, who propose to chant the praise of Rudra, is floating in Amruta.. And that Amrutham is manifest in the Supreme Being.. Paramatma.. Parabrahma.. Lord Rudra Himself.
वायुर्मे प्राणे श्रितः प्राणो हृदये हृदयं मयि अहं अमृते अमृतं ब्रह्मणि।
vāyurme prāṇe śritaḥ prāṇo hṛdaye hṛdayaṁ mayi ahaṁ amṛte amṛtaṁ brahmaṇi|
The Air, the God of Air or wind, is present in my vital life energy which is circulating withing me in five forms.. Prana, Apana, Vyana, Udhana and Samana,, That Prana is encased in my heart..The heart is within me.. I, who propose to chant the praise of Rudra, is floating in Amruta.. And that Amrutham is manifest in the Supreme Being.. Paramatma.. Parabrahma.. Lord Rudra Himself.
सूर्यो मे चक्षुषि श्रितः चक्षुर् हृदये हृदयं मयि अहं अमृते अमृतं ब्रह्मणि।
sūryo me cakṣuṣi śritaḥ cakṣur hṛdaye hṛdayaṁ mayi ahaṁ amṛte amṛtaṁ brahmaṇi|
The Sun, the God of Sun, is present in my pair of eyes, enabling me to see.. The vision possessed by me is connected to my heart. The heart is within me.. I, who propose to chant the praise of Rudra, is floating in Amruta.. And that Amrutham is manifest in the Supreme Being.. Paramatma.. Parabrahma.. Lord Rudra Himself.
चन्द्रमा मे मनसि श्रितः मनो हृदये हृदयं मयि अहं अमृते अमृतं ब्रह्मणि।
candramā me manasi śritaḥ mano hṛdaye hṛdayaṁ mayi ahaṁ amṛte amṛtaṁ brahmaṇi|
The moon, the deity of Moon is present in my mind and is in control of all my thought process. The capacity to think is resident in my heart. The heart is within me.. I, who propose to chant the praise of Rudra, is floating in Amruta.. And that Amrutham is manifest in the Supreme Being.. Paramatma.. Parabrahma.. Lord Rudra Himself.
दिशो मे श्रोत्रे श्रितः श्रोत्रग्ं हृदये हृदयं मयि अहं अमृते अमृतं ब्रह्मणि।

diśo me śrotre śritaḥ śrotragṁ hṛdaye hṛdayaṁ mayi ahaṁ amṛte amṛtaṁ brahmaṇi|
The ten directions.. East, South East, South, South west, West, North West, North, North East, Zenith(top) and Nadir (bottom) presided over by Indra,Agni, Yama, Nirruti, Vayu, Kubera, Eashaana, Vishnu and Brahma.. are all present in my ears and my capacity to hear.. That capacity is controlled by my heart. The heart is within me.. I, who propose to chant the praise of Rudra, is floating in Amruta.. And that Amrutham is manifest in the Supreme Being.. Paramatma.. Parabrahma.. Lord Rudra Himself.
आपो मे रेतसि श्रितः रेतो हृदये हृदयं मयि अहं अमृते अमृतं ब्रह्मणि।
āpo me retasi śritaḥ reto hṛdaye hṛdayaṁ mayi ahaṁ amṛte amṛtaṁ brahmaṇi|
The waters and the Pavamana Devatas who control the waters are present in my Vital life producing fluid (semen). That semen and its vitality is connected to my heart. The heart is within me.. I, who propose to chant the praise of Rudra, is floating in Amruta.. And that Amrutham is manifest in the Supreme Being.. Paramatma.. Parabrahma.. Lord Rudra Himself.
पृथिवी मे शरीरे श्रिता शरीरग्ं हृदये हृदयं मयि अहं अमृते अमृतं ब्रह्मणि।
pṛthivī me śarīre śritā śarīragṁ hṛdaye hṛdayaṁ mayi ahaṁ amṛte amṛtaṁ brahmaṇi|
The physical earth and the Goddess earth are present in the structure of my body... my body itself.. That body is operational because of my heart. The heart is within me.. I, who propose to chant the praise of Rudra, is floating in Amruta.. And that Amrutham is manifest in the Supreme Being.. Paramatma.. Parabrahma.. Lord Rudra Himself.
औषधिवनस्पतयो मे लोमसु श्रिताः लोमानि हृदये हृदयं मयि अहं अमृते अमृतं ब्रह्मणि।auṣadhivanaspatayo me lomasu śritāḥ lomāni hṛdaye hṛdayaṁ mayi ahaṁ amṛte amṛtaṁ brahmaṇi|
The herbs plants and trees.. Aushadis that flower and produce fruits too and Vanaspatis that produce fruits but growing very small and practically invisible flowers, are all present in the hair growing all over my body.. The hairs are connected to and are sustained by my heart.The heart is within me.. I, who propose to chant the praise of Rudra, is floating in Amruta.. And that Amrutham is manifest in the Supreme Being.. Paramatma.. Parabrahma.. Lord Rudra Himself.
इन्द्रो मे बले श्रितः बलग्ं हृदये हृदयं मयि अहं अमृते अमृतं ब्रह्मणि।
indro me bale śritaḥ balagṁ hṛdaye hṛdayaṁ mayi ahaṁ amṛte amṛtaṁ brahmaṇi|
Indra the leader of Gods is present in my physical strength. My physical strenght is connected to my heart. .The heart is within me.. I, who propose to chant the praise of Rudra, is floating in Amruta.. And that Amrutham is manifest in the Supreme Being.. Paramatma.. Parabrahma.. Lord Rudra Himself.
पर्जन्यो मे मूर्द्धनि श्रितः मूर्द्धा हृदये हृदयं मयि अहं अमृते अमृतं ब्रह्मणि।
parjanyo me mūrddhani śritaḥ mūrddhā hṛdaye hṛdayaṁ mayi ahaṁ amṛte amṛtaṁ brahmaṇi| The God of Rains , the parjanya is present at the top of my head.. The top of my head is connected vitally to my heart. The heart is within me.. I, who propose to chant the praise of Rudra, is floating in Amruta.. And that Amrutham is manifest in the Supreme Being.. Paramatma.. Parabrahma.. Lord Rudra Himself.
ईशानो मे मन्वौ श्रितः मन्युर् हृदये हृदयं मयि अहं अमृते अमृतं ब्रह्मणि।
īśāno me manvau śritaḥ manyur hṛdaye hṛdayaṁ mayi ahaṁ amṛte amṛtaṁ brahmaṇi| Eashaana.. the one who spreads everywhere as a manifestation of Lord Shiva Himself, is present in my anger, or in my capacity to get angry.. That capacity is connceted intensely with my heart.The heart is within me.. I, who propose to chant the praise of Rudra, is floating in Amruta.. And that Amrutham is manifest in the Supreme Being.. Paramatma.. Parabrahma.. Lord Rudra Himself.
आत्मा म आत्मनि श्रितः आत्मा हृदये हृदयं मयि अहं अमृते अमृतं ब्रह्मणि।ātmā ma ātmani śritaḥ ātmā hṛdaye hṛdayaṁ mayi ahaṁ amṛte amṛtaṁ brahmaṇi| The distinctive Atma or I ness which gives me physical identiy (Jeevatma) is present within me as an alternate manifestation of the Supreme being.. Paramatma.. That being is intensely connected ot my heart.
The heart is within me.. I, who propose to chant the praise of Rudra, is floating in Amruta.. And that Amrutham is manifest in the Supreme Being.. Paramatma.. Parabrahma.. Lord Rudra Himself.

with the chant of the above mantras, we spread our consciousness to all the great beings in the Universe.. And then we withdraw such consciousness to with ourselves.. so that we can chant the praise of Ruda..Sri Rudram, sitting in our human bodies.
पुनर्म आत्मा पुर्नरायुरागात्। पुनः प्राणः पुनराकूतमागात्। वैश्वानरो रश्मिभिर् व वृधानः । अन्तः तिष्तत्वमृतस्य गोपाः॥
punarma ātmā purnarāyurāgāt| punaḥ prāṇaḥ punarākūtamāgāt| vaiśvānaro raśmibhir va vṛdhānaḥ | antaḥ tiṣtatvamṛtasya gopāḥ||

May that Atma come back to my pranas or Vital forces.
May those pranas which have mentally visited the abodes of the supreme come back an station itself in my body once again
May the God of Fire Vaishvanara flare up with bright flames, which might increase from strenght to strenght
And may the Gods who are the protectors of Amrutham , all stand alert within me,
As I chant Sri Rudram..

The meaning alone is given below separately.

The invoking of all supreme divine powers on ourselves and connecting them all to the Most Supreme Paramatma.. bhagavan Rudra.. before engaging in chanting, floral worship, offering abhishekam and pranams to the Lord through Sri Rudram... also called Namakam..
Part of what we call Laghunayam.
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Agni, the fire, and the deity of fire is present in the words I utter, or my capacity to utter words.. That capacity is connected to my heart.. The heart is within me.. I, who propose to chant the praise of Rudra, is floating in Amruta.. And that Amrutham is manifest in the Supreme Being.. Paramatma.. Parabrahma.. Lord Rudra Himself.
----
The Air, the God of Air or wind, is present in my vital life energy which is circulating withing me in five forms.. Prana, Apana, Vyana, Udhana and Samana,, That Prana is encased in my heart..The heart is within me.. I, who propose to chant the praise of Rudra, is floating in Amruta.. And that Amrutham is manifest in the Supreme Being.. Paramatma.. Parabrahma.. Lord Rudra Himself.
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The Sun, the God of Sun, is present in my pair of eyes, enabling me to see.. The vision possessed by me is connected to my heart. The heart is within me.. I, who propose to chant the praise of Rudra, is floating in Amruta.. And that Amrutham is manifest in the Supreme Being.. Paramatma.. Parabrahma.. Lord Rudra Himself.
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The moon, the deity of Moon is present in my mind and is in control of all my thought process. The capacity to think is resident in my heart. The heart is within me.. I, who propose to chant the praise of Rudra, is floating in Amruta.. And that Amrutham is manifest in the Supreme Being.. Paramatma.. Parabrahma.. Lord Rudra Himself.
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The ten directions.. East, South East, South, South west, West, North West, North, North East, Zenith(top) and Nadir (bottom) presided over by Indra,Agni, Yama, Nirruti, Vayu, Kubera, Eashaana, Vishnu and Brahma.. are all present in my ears and my capacity to hear.. That capacity is controlled by my heart. The heart is within me.. I, who propose to chant the praise of Rudra, is floating in Amruta.. And that Amrutham is manifest in the Supreme Being.. Paramatma.. Parabrahma.. Lord Rudra Himself.
(Soma the moon.. is also considered as the Dikpala in Place of Kubera in some Vedic texts)
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The waters and the Pavamana Devatas who control the waters are present in my Vital life producing fluid (semen). That semen and its vitality is connected to my heart. The heart is within me.. I, who propose to chant the praise of Rudra, is floating in Amruta.. And that Amrutham is manifest in the Supreme Being.. Paramatma.. Parabrahma.. Lord Rudra Himself.
-------
The physical earth and the Goddess earth are present in the structure of my body... my body itself.. That body is operational because of my heart. The heart is within me.. I, who propose to chant the praise of Rudra, is floating in Amruta.. And that Amrutham is manifest in the Supreme Being.. Paramatma.. Parabrahma.. Lord Rudra Himself.
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The herbs plants and trees.. Aushadis that flower and produce fruits too and Vanaspatis that produce fruits but growing very small and practically invisible flowers, are all present in the hair growing all over my body.. The hairs are connected to and are sustained by my heart.The heart is within me.. I, who propose to chant the praise of Rudra, is floating in Amruta.. And that Amrutham is manifest in the Supreme Being.. Paramatma.. Parabrahma.. Lord Rudra Himself.
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Indra the leader of Gods is present in my physical strength. My physical strenght is connected to my heart. .The heart is within me.. I, who propose to chant the praise of Rudra, is floating in Amruta.. And that Amrutham is manifest in the Supreme Being.. Paramatma.. Parabrahma.. Lord Rudra Himself.
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The God of Rains , the parjanya is present at the top of my head.. The top of my head is connected vitally to my heart. The heart is within me.. I, who propose to chant the praise of Rudra, is floating in Amruta.. And that Amrutham is manifest in the Supreme Being.. Paramatma.. Parabrahma.. Lord Rudra Himself.
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Eashaana.. the one who spreads everywhere as a manifestation of Lord Shiva Himself, is present in my anger, or in my capacity to get angry.. That capacity is connceted intensely with my heart.The heart is within me.. I, who propose to chant the praise of Rudra, is floating in Amruta.. And that Amrutham is manifest in the Supreme Being.. Paramatma.. Parabrahma.. Lord Rudra Himself.
-----------
The distinctive Atma or I ness which gives me physical identiy (Jeevatma) is present within me as an alternate manifestation of the Supreme being.. Paramatma.. That being is intensely connected ot my heart.
The heart is within me.. I, who propose to chant the praise of Rudra, is floating in Amruta.. And that Amrutham is manifest in the Supreme Being.. Paramatma.. Parabrahma.. Lord Rudra Himself.
---------------
with the chant of the above mantras, we spread our consciousness to all the great beings in the Universe.. And then we withdraw such consciousness to with ourselves.. so that we can chant the praise of Ruda..Sri Rudram, sitting in our human bodies.
--------

May that Atma come back to my pranas or Vital forces.
May those pranas which have mentally visited the abodes of the supreme come back an station itself in my body once again
May the God of Fire Vaishvanara flare up with bright flames, which might increase from strenght to strenght
And may the Gods who are the protectors of Amrutham , all stand alert within me,
As I chant Sri Rudram..

NYASAM FOR CHANTING SRIRUDRAM

NYASAM FOR CHANTING SRIRUDRAM

Before chanting any mantram it is the practice that we make prayers and invoke protection of the divine beings on all our limbs and all around us..

This is especially true when we chant the great mantram of Rudram.. Sri Rudram.. the Satarudriyam.. 

The limbs and positions of the bodies where we invoke the presence of various Deities is prescribed by the Vedas--, in this case by Bodhayana -- as follows.

The process of invoking the deities is called Nyasam.. This process here is called LAGHUNYASAM..

प्रजनने ब्रह्मा तिष्ठतु। पादयोः विष्णुस्तिष्ठतु। हस्तयोः हरस्तिष्ठतु। बाह्वोरिन्द्रस्तिष्टतु। जठरे अग्निस्तिष्ठतु। हृदये शिवस्तिष्ठतु। कण्ठे वसवस्तिष्ठन्तु। वक्त्रे सरस्वती तिष्ठतु। नासिकयोः वायुस्तिष्ठतु। नयनयोः चन्द्रादित्यौ तिष्ठेताम्। कर्णयोः अश्विनौ तिष्ठेताम्। ललाटे रुद्रास्तिष्ठन्तु। मूर्ध्नि आदित्यास्तिष्ठन्तु। शिरसि महादेवस्तिष्ठतु। शिखायां वामदेवस्तिष्ठतु। पृष्ठे पिनाकि तिष्ठतु। पुरतः शूली तिष्ठतु। पार्श्वयोः शिवाशङ्करौ तिष्ठेताम्। सर्वतो वायुस्तिष्ठतु। ततो बहिः सर्वतः अग्निर्ज्वालामालापरिवृतस्तिष्ठतु। सर्वेष्वङ्गेषु सर्वा देवता यथास्थानं तिष्ठन्तु॥ मां रक्षन्तु॥

prajanane brahmā tiṣṭhatu| pādayoḥ viṣṇustiṣṭhatu| hastayoḥ harastiṣṭhatu| bāhvorindrastiṣṭatu| jaṭhare agnistiṣṭhatu| hṛdaye śivastiṣṭhatu| kaṇṭhe vasavastiṣṭhantu| vaktre sarasvatī tiṣṭhatu| nāsikayoḥ vāyustiṣṭhatu| nayanayoḥ candrādityau tiṣṭhetām| karṇayoḥ aśvinau tiṣṭhetām| lalāṭe rudrāstiṣṭhantu| mūrdhni ādityāstiṣṭhantu| śirasi mahādevastiṣṭhatu| śikhāyāṁ vāmadevastiṣṭhatu| pṛṣṭhe pināki tiṣṭhatu| purataḥ śūlī tiṣṭhatu| pārśvayoḥ śivāśaṅkarau tiṣṭhetām| sarvato vāyustiṣṭhatu| tato bahiḥ sarvataḥ agnirjvālāmālāparivṛtastiṣṭhatu| sarveṣvaṅgeṣu sarvā devatā yathāsthānaṁ tiṣṭhantu|| māṁ rakṣantu||

प्रजनने ब्रह्मा तिष्ठतु। पादयोः विष्णुस्तिष्ठतु। May the Lord of Creation Brahma be present in my genital orgains 

हस्तयोः हरस्तिष्ठतु। May Lord Hara.. Shiva manifest himself in the pair of my hands.

बाह्वोरिन्द्रस्तिष्टतु। May Lord Indira Manifest himself in be present in my arms.

जठरे अग्निस्तिष्ठतु। May the lord of fire be present in my stomach

हृदये शिवस्तिष्ठतु। May lord Shiva be present in my hear.

कण्ठे वसवस्तिष्ठन्तु। May the eight Vasus be present in my throat 

वक्त्रे सरस्वती तिष्ठतु। May Sarasvathi be present in my mouth and tongu 

नासिकयोः वायुस्तिष्ठतु। May the lord of Air be present in my nosrils.

नयनयोः चन्द्रादित्यौ तिष्ठेताम्। may the Sun and the Moon be present in each of my two eyes.

कर्णयोः अश्विनौ तिष्ठेताम्। May the Ahvins be present in my two ears

ललाटे रुद्रास्तिष्ठन्तु। May the eleven Rudras manifest themselves on my forehead.

मूर्ध्नि आदित्यास्तिष्ठन्तु। May the twelve Adityas be present at the topmost portion of of my head. 

शिरसि महादेवस्तिष्ठतु। may lord Mahadeva be present on my head

शिखायां वामदेवस्तिष्ठतु। May Lord Vamadeva manifest himself in the portion of of my head where my hair is tied into a tuft

पृष्ठे पिनाकि तिष्ठतु। May Pinaaki the Shiva be present in the lower back portion of my body.

पुरतः शूली तिष्ठतु। May Shuli the Shiva, the wielder of the Trident be present in front of me 

पार्श्वयोः शिवाशङ्करौ तिष्ठेताम्। May the Lordess Shivaa and Lord Shankara be present on my two sides.

सर्वतो वायुस्तिष्ठतु। May the air be be flowing free everywhere.

ततो बहिः सर्वतः अग्निर्ज्वालामालापरिवृतस्तिष्ठतु। And everywhere outside, the fire, wearing the garland of brilliant flames may be present सर्वेष्वङ्गेषु सर्वा देवता यथास्थानं तिष्तन्तु॥ May all the gods (thirty three crores in number.. be present at the appropriate limbs or my body..

May I be in their constant protection while I am performing the chant and the prayer..

Meditation on that Infinite being called Rudra

Meditation on that Infinite being called Rudra

अथात्मानम् शिवात्मानम् रुद्ररूपम् ध्यायेत् 

शुद्धस्फटिकसङ्काशम् त्रिनेत्रम् पञ्चवक्त्रकम्।

गङ्गाधरम् दशभुजम् सर्वाभरण भूषितम्। 

नीलग्रीवम् शशाङ्काङ्कम् नागयज्ञोपवीतिनम्।

व्याघ्रचर्मोत्तरीयम् च वरेण्यमभयप्रदम्॥

कमण्डल्वक्षसूत्राणाम् धारिणम् शूलपाणिनम्।

ज्वलन्तम् पिङ्गलजटम् शिखामध्योद धारिणम्॥

वृषस्कन्धसमारूढम् उमादेहार्ध धारिणम्।

अमृतेनाप्ळुतम् शान्तम् दिव्यभोग समन्वितम्॥

दिग्देवता समायुक्तम् सुरासुर नमस्कृतम्।

नित्यम् च शाश्वतम् शुद्धम् ध्रुवमक्षरमव्ययम्।

सर्वव्यापिनमीशानम् रुद्रम् वै विश्वरूपिनम् 

एवम् ध्यात्वा द्विजस्सम्यक् ततो यजनमारभेत्॥

athātmānam śivātmānam rudrarūpam dhyāyet 

śuddhasphaṭikasaṅkāśam trinetram pañcavaktrakam|

gaṅgādharam daśabhujam sarvābharaṇa bhūṣitam| 

nīlagrīvam śaśāṅkāṅkam nāgayajñopavītinam|

vyāghracarmottarīyam ca vareṇyamabhayapradam||

kamaṇḍalvakṣasūtrāṇām dhāriṇam śūlapāṇinam|

jvalantam piṅgalajaṭam śikhāmadhyoda dhāriṇam||

vṛṣaskandhasamārūḍham umādehārdha dhāriṇam|

amṛtenāpḻutam śāntam divyabhoga samanvitam||

digdevatā samāyuktam surāsura namaskṛtam|

nityam ca śāśvatam śuddham dhruvamakṣaramavyayam|

sarvavyāpinamīśānam rudram vai viśvarūpinam 

evam dhyātvā dvijassamyak tato yajanamārabhet ||

athAtmAnam shivAtmAnam rudrarUpam dhyAyet 

shuddhasphaTikasa~NkAsham trinetram pa~ncavaktrakam.

ga~NgAdharam dashabhujam sarvAbharaNa bhUSitam. 

nIlagrIvam shashA~NkA~Nkam nAgayaj~nopavItinam.

vyAghracarmottarIyam ca vareNyamabhayapradam..

kamaNDalvakSasUtrANAm dhAriNam shUlapANinam.

jvalantam pi~NgalajaTam shikhAmadhyoda dhAriNam..

vRRiSaskandhasamArUDham umAdehArdha dhAriNam.

amRRitenaapLutam shAntam divyabhoga samanvitam..

digdevatA samAyuktam surAsura namaskRRitam.

nityam ca shAshvatam shuddham dhruvamakSaramavyayam.

sarvavyApinamIshAnam rudram vai vishvarUpinam 

evam dhyAtvA dvijassamyak tato yajanamArabhet ..

On this day of Shiva.. rather Night of Shiva.. the Shivaratri, abhishekam with water and all fragrant, nutritious and sacred materials is offered to the Lord during all the four Yaamaas..

. starting at 6PM then 9 PM, 12 Midnight and finally 3 AM next day..

Oil, Milk Curd Panchgavyam, Panchamritam, Lemon Juice, Sugarcane Juice, Sandal and Scented Water, Ghee, etc are offered to Him as Abhishekam

The continuous abhishekam is done chanting Sri Rudram of Shatarudreeyam... the holiest of the mantras on the lord of lords Rudra that Vedas can offer.. 

In fact the mantram starts with a pranam to Rudra.. 

Om Namo bhagavate Rudraya.. 

ॐ नमो भगवते रुद्राय 

the veda itself offers pranams to that Supreme Lord Rudra..

The chanting of that holy mantra and offering respects to the Lord through that mantra is to be preceded by observation of intense discipline by the chanter.. 

Bodhyana explains how one should become one with Shiva Himself and meditate on his form as a prelude to the start of the yajna that is chanting and abhishekam to the Lord with SriRudram

One should just fix in himself the faith that the sacred form of Lord Rudra has merged with himself and then start chanting..

The form and various attributes of the lord

He is shining with the blemishless lustre of clear crystal

He is having three eyes. Sun Moon and Fire

He is having five faces... Sadhyojatha, Tatpurusha,Vamadeva, Aghora and Eaashan 

He carried River Devi Ganga in his matted locks 

He is having ten arms

He has decorated himself with ornaments of splendour

His neck is of dark blue colour 

He is having the moon as an ornament 

He is wearing a snake at yajnopaveetam or thread across the torso

He is having the skin of a tiger as the upper garment across his body

He is the most respectable God among all gods..

He is ever pleased to grant refuge to all devotees..

He is holding a water pot Kamandalu in one hand

He is holding Akshamaala or rosary in another hand

He is holding a trident Shoolam

He is shining with a fountain of water sprounting from the middle of his matted hair

He has mounted the back of a huge bull Vrishabha 

He is having half of His own body occupied by mother Uma 

He is floating Himself in Ambrosia.. the Amrutham

He is very peaceful and calm

He is in a state of mind where his is just enjoying all the pleasures of the world

He is surrounded by the lords of all the Cardinal directions.. Indra, Agni, Yama, Niruriti, Varuna, Vayu, Kubera and Brahma 

All the divine beings are offering pranmas to Him

He is the eternal being

He is present in the past present and the future too for ever

He is pure in absolute terms

He is very fixed in his stature and will 

He is without any destruction or dimunition 

His glory can never be depleted

He is spreading himself all over the universe and everywhere

He is having all the powers of will and control over everything manifest and unmanifest 

He is the Rudra.. the one who Cries and one who shouts.. cries in agony and ecstacy

He is the Vishvaroopi.. His shape is that of everything in this universe and everything in this universe just manifests in His form.

The learned man should meditate upon Rudra the Shankara in the above aspects and start the yajnam of offering ablutions to the Lord with Shri Rudram..