ˈeɪntʃənt ænd mˈɛdɪˌiːvəl bˈuːdɪst tˈɛksts dᵻfˈaɪn sˈɛvəntˌiːn, ɔːɹ mˈoːɹ, hˈɛvənli bɹˈɑːmɚ ɹˈɛlmz ɐlˈɔŋ wɪð dˈɛmiɡˈɑːdz, hˈʌŋɡɹi ɡˈoʊst ænd hˈɛlɪʃ ɹˈɛlmz, ɪn ɐ stɹˈæɾᵻfˌaɪd mˈænɚ, wˌɪtʃ ɑːɹ ɹˈiːtʃt ɪn ˈæftɚlˌaɪf bˈeɪst ˌɔn mənˈæstɪk ɐtʃˈiːvmənt ænd kˈɑːɹmə ɐkjˌuːmjʊlˈeɪʃən.
Ancient and medieval Buddhist texts define seventeen, or more, heavenly Brahmā realms (along with demi-gods, hungry ghost and hellish realms), in a stratified manner, which are reached in afterlife based on monastic achievement and karma accumulation.