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bhadamta is quite well-known in Pali as a term of respectable address or adjective with respect to Buddhist mendicant, monk
etc.
Its contracted form bhamte (for bhadamte) frequently used similarly in the Jain Agamas. (Pischel §§ 165, 349, 366 v. 417, 463, 465).
The root bhand is given in the Dhatupaṭha (2, 11) with the meanings kalyāṇa, sukha-. bhadanta- derived from it is noted in the Uṇādi-sütra-vṛtti (3, 130) according to Monier Williams dictionary. Semantically, bhadanta can be possibly explained as meaning kalyāṇakāraka. But its very frequent use in speeches as a respectful term of address leads me to suspect that it may have been also influenced by the MIA. form of the traditional blessing formula bhadram te (> bhaddam te > bhadamte).
The addresser thereby expresses his or her reverence and good wishes 'Bless you!' 'Let no evil visit you'.
This is comparable to the utterances jaya, jiva, nanda, vardhasva shouted as blessing for a great person on a festive occasion.
A paralled case is that of Sk. jiva 'long live', Ap. jiu, jiu, occuring in various NIA. languages as jiu ! jyu, ji etc. as a particle of assent or respect and also as an honorific particle added to names (Turner, 5240).
From the respectful term of address bhadamte was created the address bhadamta which later became specialized as applying to the Buddhest monks and mendicants.
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