The monastery’s fortunes changed after the Mongolian Revolution of 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. 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." In February 1937, the monastery’s last remaining 53 lamas (most older than 50–60 years) were arrested and many were later shot. All 20 temples of the monastery were then destroyed and the valuable Buddhist scriptures were moved to the Mongolian National Library. 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.