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The Shiv Mahimn Stotra is a very popular Stotra (prayer) among the devotees of Shiv and is considered one of the best among all Stotra (Stuti or prayer) offered to Shiv. How this Stotra was written? There is an interesting legend about the circumstances leading to the composition of this Stotra :--

The Story of Pushpdant

There was a King named Chitrarath who had constructed a nice garden in his palace. There were beautiful flowers in this garden. These flowers were used every day by the King in worshipping Shiv. One day a Gandharv (Heavenly singer in the court of Indra) named Pushpdant was passing by that garden, so he got fascinated by those beautiful flowers. he tried his best to restrict himself but he could not and he began to steal them for his worship as he himself was a great devotee of Shiv. As a consequence of which King Chitrarath could not offer flowers to Shiv. He tried very hard to capture the thief, but in vain, because the Gandharv have divine power to remain invisible.

Finally the King thought of a way to catch the thief. spread the Shiv Nirmaalya in his garden . Shiv Nirmaalya consists of the Bilva leaves, flowers, etc. which have been used in worshipping Shiv. Thus Shiv Nirmaalya is considered holy. So when next time Pushpdant came to steal the flowers from the King's garden, he did not notice this and walked on the Shiv Nirmaalya, and by that insult he incurred the wrath of Shiv and lost the divine power of invisibility. He was soon seen by the King and got caught. He then designed a prayer to Shiv asking for his forgiveness. In this prayer he sung the greatness of the Lord. This very prayer became well known as the "Shiv Mahimn Stotra". Shiv became very pleased by this Stotra, and returned Pushpdant’s divine powers.

The legend has some basis since the name of the author is mentioned in verse number 38 of the Stotra. The recital of this Stotra is very beneficial, therefore let its recitation be beneficial to all beings.

The Sanskrit script of this Stotra is available at:
http://www.vignanam.org/veda/shiva-mahimna-stotram-devanagari.html

the English transliteration with meaning is available at:
http://devotionalonly.com/shiva-mahimna-stotram-with-lyrics-and-meaning/

The YouTube link for this is:
http://youtu.be/KlyyZAbv_U8

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