Page:Sanâtana dharma - an elementary text book of Hindu religion and ethics (IA santanadharmae00centiala).pdf/17



ANÂTANA DHARMA means the Eternal Religion, the Ancient Law, and it is based on the Vedas, sacred books given to men many long ages ago. This Religion has also been called the Aryan Religion, because it is the Religion that was given to the first nation of the Aryan race; Ârya means noble, and the name was given to a great race, much finer in character and appearance than the races which went before it in the world's history. The first families of these people settled in the northern part of the land now called India, and that part in which they first settled was named Âryavarta, because these Aryans lived in it. "(The land) from the eastern ocean to the western ocean, between the two mountains (Himavân and Vindhya), the wise call Âryâvarta."