Chronocrator - the ruler of time

The ancient Roman and Greek astrologers had a very peculiar dasa system of their own. It was called the Chronocrator which means the ruler of time. This system is completely unlike any of the well known dasa systems from Hindu astrology. But in the western countries nobody seems to remember anything about the Chronocrator anylonger. So obviously the ruler of time got lost in time...

Anyway, the use of this simple and yet very unique system is described in a detailed manner in a book called the Mathesis from the forth century A.D. written by a roman astrologer by the name of Julius Firmicus Maternus. We can learn it all from this book.

There are only seven planets in the ancient Roman and Greek astrology since Rahu and Kethu were not included. Further, any doubt about whether to use Tropical or Sidereal system with this system is out of the question as this kind of dasa system is not in any manner related to the signs.

The major periods

One by one each of the planets becomes the ruler of time following the order in which they are placed in the birth chart of the native. Thus, if we have Moon in Taurus, Mercury in Cancer and Venus in Leo, then Moon would be followed by Mercury and Mercury by Venus and so on with the major periods of the remaining planets.

According to Mathesis the first period will always be the Sun in a diurnal chart, and the Moon in a nocturnal chart. Experiments, however, seem to show that the system should always begin with the Moon. This may be a matter of further research.

The minor periods

Each of the planets holds dominion for ten years and nine months - equal to 129 months. Each of the major periods are further divided into seven minor periods of unequal duration:

Sun 19 months
Moon 25 months
Mars 15 months
Mercury 20 months
Jupiter 12 months
Venus 8 months
Saturn 30 months

The order of the seven minor periods will follow the order of the planets in the natal chart just like the major periods. But the first minor period in each major period will always be that of the planet ruling the major period itself.

Predictions from the major periods

According to the Mathesis, the major periods controlled by the luminaries always have a bad prediction. If the Moon is warning or any of the luminaries combine with Mars and Saturn it is even worse, but the benefic influence of Jupiter mitigates the evils. However, by the malefic influence of Saturn and Mars they will be aggravated. This is also the case with the other planets.

The Sun's period disturbs the order of life and also indicates illness, pains in the eyes, fever or troubles from fire. The Sun will give a quarrelsome time, and there may be disagreement about house or properties. Also it gives a bad prediction for the father and for the position of the native.

In the Moon's period life is changeable and disturbed in various ways. Something that has been collected earlier is lost again. There will be disturbance of hidden jealousy. There will be anxieties due to accusations and litigations. There will be cold effect to body and mind. Also illness, weakness of body and danger from water.

The period of Mars will change the order of life and occupation. Whatever was carried on before is transferred into something else. The position held before may be lost, or there will be crises. It indicates important steps in occupation with powerful disturbances. There will be some loss of income, quarrels, financial troubles and maybe even dangers.

In general Mercury is a period of joy and happiness. There will be nice profit and suitable income in occupation. There will be protection and friendship with important people. Promotion and fortune are likely in most of the duties and activities. Business affairs turn out prosperously with fortunate outcome. But normally this comes only after labour and troubles. This period also promotes some old disagreements and revives hidden quarrels. There will be certain dangers from things written. Deceit or forgery is indicated. But often the enemies or opponents are destroyed in various ways.

The period of Jupiter indicates good fortune, happiness and glory. Also it brings increase of income, honour and prosperity. Events of marriage or birth of children is likely if the chart and the age of the native permits. The affairs turns out well and there will be nice profit. There will be a happy time, free from all disturbance, and traces of evil are washed away in this period.

Venus is a happy time that often leads to romance. Either in shape of marriage or as illicit love affairs. But promiscuous intercourse and adultery may lead to some hidden scandal. This will be a time of personal charm and grace, freed from many previous misfortunes and troubles. There will be more fortune, happiness and security, and there will be prosperity and profit in most affairs.

Saturn will be a period of slow progress, delay, difficulties and hinderance in the important activities. It may lead to failure in occupation and in the domestic matters. Something goes wrong. This period promotes quarrels. There will be loss of some persons useful to the native. Either by death or by separation. There will be certain breaks in the relations. If danger has been indicated by Saturn, then whatever he had indicated before it will be more severe.

Predictions from the minor periods

SUN - SUN
Expect nothing prosperous, but rather some elements of misfortune in this period.

SUN - MOON
Life is disturbed in various ways. Something collected earlier is now lost. Life will be changeable and uncertain.

SUN - MARS
Loss of income and fortune. Quarrels and disagreements. Pains in the eyes and dangers.

SUN - MERCURY
Frequent business activities and continual profit, but the profit comes only after labour and pains.

SUN - JUPITER
Happy peaceful life with good fortune. All traces of evils are washed away. Losses are made good, health is restored and the native is freed from difficulties.

SUN - VENUS
Prosperity in most affairs, but certain troubles from the partner. A malevolent concealed mind in the partner both betrays and then covers itself. Therefore quarrels are indicated.

SUN - SATURN
In a nocturnal charts there will be pestilence and death, but in diurnal charts it indicates great prosperity.

MOON - SUN
This indicates fire and illness with fever.

MOON - MOON
This gives a bad prediction or even death if influenced by malefics. If by benefics a moderate increase in possessions after struggle.

MOON - MARS
This brings the effect of riots, revolutions and catastrophes.

MOON - MERCURY
There will be chills and illness with weakness of the body.

MOON - JUPITER
Indicates joy, happiness and increase of prosperity. All dangers, fears and illnesses are put to sleep.

MOON - VENUS
In diurnal charts this brings sterility, but in nocturnal charts it gives increase in possessions, especially if the Moon is warning.

MOON - SATURN
Danger from water or shipwreck.

MARS - SUN
Disturbs the order of life with dangers, calamities and riots. Illness and pains in the eyes.

MARS - MOON
There will be preceding evils and also dangers.

MARS - MARS
Important occupation with powerful disturbances. Danger to the activities, especially in a diurnal chart.

MARS - MERCURY
Certain dangers from written things or loss from forgeries. But often enemies are destroyed in various ways.

MARS - JUPITER
This indicates prosperity and makes the affairs turn out well with profit and high position. It heals sickness, gives rest from suffering, security from anxiety, return for wanderers, end to litigations and abundance for those in need.

MARS - VENUS
A prosperous time freed from dangers. But some hidden scandal is brought to light from promiscuous intercourse etc. This is made public by the influence of Sun and Mercury, but it will be concealed by Jupiter's influence.

MARS - SATURN
There will be slow progress in activities and many affairs are hindered.

MERCURY - SUN
This period will give loss of inheritance and serious anxieties of the mind.

MERCURY - MOON
Illness and weakness of body. Also there will be cold sluggishness of mind.

MERCURY - MARS
Enemies brings in accusations or litigations.

MERCURY - MERCURY
All good things and prosperity are indicated with a fortunate outcome to the activities.

MERCURY - JUPITER
A quiet time, free from all disturbances, but there are great rewards of praise and happiness. Especially to those who has no children, if their charts permits.

MERCURY - VENUS
Good fortune and constant prosperity. Security, tranquillity and profit.

MERCURY - SATURN
This indicates calamities like the loss or death of someone; parents, relatives, patrons - and all such persons who are of use to the native.

JUPITER - SUN
Some secrets are made public, which brings anxieties and changes the activities in various ways. Things collected are now scattered, and everything is disturbed and confused.

JUPITER - MOON
A period of tranquillity, increase and protection. Previous pains, fears, misfortunes, griefs and bad luck are now solved, and a civilized time of good fortune approaches, wiping away troubles.

JUPITER - MARS
This changes the order of life and occupation, and whatever was carried on before is transferred into another kind of life, so that the position held before are lost; or Mars will be harmful with various kinds of crises.

JUPITER - MERCURY
This indicates occupation with much profit, protection from important friendships, promotion in all assigned duties and good fortunes from all activities.

JUPITER - JUPITER
There will be fortune, glory, honour, happiness and increase of income. If Jupiter had decreed marriage and children, then the native can have that - if the age permits.

JUPITER - VENUS
This makes prosperous times with good fortune. It predicts marriage or some continual illicit love affair.

JUPITER - SATURN
This will make the native torpid and hindered in activities, which may even lead to failure in occupation.

VENUS - SUN
This makes the wives flee and gives dangers and loss of possessions. If Jupiter aspects, the native are separated from wife by necessary journeys.

VENUS - MOON
This bring light to hidden jalousie and is harmful to important matters due to misfortune.

VENUS - MARS
This brings evils and griefs. It indicate illicit love affairs and imposes love sorrow and disagreement with the worst kind of wives.

VENUS - MERCURY
This confers suitable income, profit and makes all business affairs turn out prosperously. There will be joy and happiness.

VENUS - JUPITER
This indicates a favourable and happy time, but it will stir up certain scandals.

VENUS - VENUS
This gives happiness of love and brings marriage together with personal charm and grace. It indicates happiness and security.

VENUS - SATURN
This stirs up serious quarrels with women. The natives are separated from their wives.

SATURN - SUN
There will be disagreements and quarrelsome confrontations due to house and property matters. Also it is bad for the father and bad for the position of the native.

SATURN - MOON
This will produce illness, dangers, anxieties and calamities. It indicates danger from water and brings accusations or litigations.

SATURN - MARS
It indicates a happy period where evils are put to sleep. For contrary powers cancel each other. (?)

SATURN - MERCURY
This period brings up old disagreements and revives hidden quarrels.

SATURN - JUPITER
If Saturn gave malefic results due to bad placement, then all threats are lessened by the power of the helpful god. If Saturn is in good signs, degrees or trine to Jupiter, then this period indicates the greatest fortune.

SATURN - VENUS
This will make a happy time, separated from misfortune. It corrects difficulties brought on by other planets. But if Saturn has indicated marriage, then the wife would have been a widow before.