The Buddhist cosmology model (Bhavachakra, Samsara Chakra) of the environment and inhabitants is based on the Abhidharma literature of the Theravada and Sutrayana vehicles.
Toh 980 The Sūtra on Dependent Arising. Pratītyasamutpādasūtra, ’phags pa rten cing ’brel bar ’byung ba zhes bya ba theg pa chen po’i mdo).Publications:
King Udrayana and the Wheel of Life. Sermey Geshe Lobsang Tharchin. Mahayana Sutra and Tantra Press. New Jersey, 1984, 1989.
Reinventing the Wheel. Paintings of Rebirth in Medieval Buddhist Temples. Stephen F. Teiser. University of Washington Press, Seattle & London. 2006.
The Tibetan Wheel of Existence: An Introduction. Jacqueline Dunnington. Tibet House, New York: 2000.