A holding and guiding mechanism (5, 5') for connecting shaft drive rods (6, 6') in a loom includes a plurality of parallel guide tracks arranged next to each other and extending substantially vertically and defining a guide curve for a prescribed motion path of the drive rods (6, 6'). The guide curve is preferably formed by a circular guide track for a respective drive rod. The upper end of each drive rod is connected through cooperating first and second couplings to one of the heald frames and the lower end of each drive rod is journalled to a shaft drive (8D) for the shed formation when the respective drive rod is an active rod connected to the heald frame or when the respective rod assumes a passive state in which it is also held in the drive and holding mechanism, but the coupling at the upper rod end is disconnected or decoupled at this time from the heald frame. A guided end (7B) of a guide follower (7) secured to the respective drive rod engages the guide track, thus permitting the proper guiding and holding of the passive rods and the proper holding and guiding of the active rods due to the movable connection between the guided end (7B) of the guide follower (7) and the respective guide track (4, 4').