Most of the people learn only Maha Mritunjay Mantra(i.e the Mantra which saves us from death) to worship the God Shiva.Why?Are we fearful from death,this is why we pray to the God?This is not justified.We should love Shiva only and if the God Shiva thinks that death is justified for us and the only remedy of our problems,troubles is our death only, then let him grant us death and we should happily accept it.If we go to war to save our country then what is the use of reciting it?Even the God Shiva also do not like the cowards.
Here everybody on this earth is part and parcel of the Lord Shiva and Maa Parvati,and we must have eyes to see them in everybody.
Always remember,every mantra of Lord Shiva is equally effective,particularly if it is inclusive of name of Mother(i.e. Maa Parvati ,Sati ,

Durga Kali etc.) and recited with love.
To me the most effective prayer of Lord Siva prayer is:-
नमामीशमीशान निर्वाणरूपं। विभुं व्यापकं ब्रह्मवेदस्वरूपं। निजं निर्गुणं निर्विकल्पं निरीहं। चिदाकाशमाकाशवासं भजेडहं निराकारमोंकारमूलं तुरीयं। गिरा ग्यान गोतीतमीशं गिरीशं। करालं महाकाल कालं कृपालं। गुणागार संसारपारं नतोडहं तुषाराद्रि संकाश गौरं गम्भीरं। मनोभूत कोटि प्रभा श्री शरीरं। स्फुरन्मौलि कल्लोलिनी चारु गंगा। लसद्भालबालेन्दु कण्ठे भुजंगा चलत्कुण्डलं भ्रू सुनेत्रं विशालं। प्रसन्नाननं नीलकण्ठं दयालं। मृगाधीशचर्माम्बरं मुण्डमालं। प्रियं शंकरं सर्वनाथं भजामि प्रचण्डं प्रकृष्टं प्रगल्भं परेशं। अखण्डं अजं भानुकोटिप्रकाशम्। त्रय: शूल निर्मूलनं शूलपाणिं। भजेडहं भवानीपतिं भावगम्यं कलातीत कल्याण कल्पांतकारी। सदासज्जनानन्ददाता पुरारी। चिदानन्द संदोह मोहापहारी। प्रसीद प्रसीद प्रभो मन्मथारी न यावद् उमानाथ पादारविंदं। भजंतीह लोके परे वा नराणां। न तावत्सुखं शान्ति सन्तापनाशं। प्रसीद प्रभो सर्वभूताधिवासं न जानामि योगं जपं नैव पूजां। नतोडहं सदा सर्वदा शम्भु तुभ्यं। जराजन्म दु:खौघ तातप्यमानं। प्रभो पाहि आपन्न्मामीश शंभो .(Written by the great Saint Goswami Tulsi Das)
Wish a very very happy Shivratri to all of you.
May the God Siva forgive me ,if I am wrong.