On February 3, 1921 the Bogd Khan sought refuge at the monastery after occupying Chinese troops released him as they fled invading forces loyal to Roman von Ungern-Sternberg.

The Bogd Khan named the monastery’s chief abbot, Manzushir Khutagt Sambadondogiin Tserendorj, prime minister during Ungern von Sternberg’s puppet regime (February to July 1921).

In the early years following the revolution, Chief Abbot Tserendorj allegedly collaborated with the physically weakened Bogd Khan on various counter-revolutionary schemes, including sending messages for assistance to Japan.

[2] After the Bogd Khan's death in 1924, the monastery and its inhabitants suffered waves of persecution as the country's new socialist regime sought to eliminate the influence of institutional Buddhism in Mongolia.

Between 1929 and 1930, Tserendorj had his personal property confiscated by the state and in 1936, at the start of Stalinist purges, he was one of 24 lamas arrested by Khorloogiin Choibalsan’s Interior Ministry for belonging to a "counter-revolutionary group."

After a year long trial, Tserendorj was found guilty and publicly executed in front of the national theater (present day Sükhbaatar Square) in October 1937.